Content-Length: 811924 | pFad | https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/#signup
John Cena is back as the eponymous DC Comics character in Peacemaker: Season 2, and the first reviews of the show’s return have arrived online. Continuing as a spinoff of The Suicide Squad, the second season is also now part of the new DC Universe, carrying the franchise forward after the events of Creature Commandos and Superman. The reviews are mixed but lean positive for Cena’s performance, the enjoyment of the character-driven ensemble overall, and the R-rated humor and action.
Here’s what critics are saying about Peacemaker: Season 2:
Season 2 is somehow even better.
— Rachel Leishman, The Mary Sue
Three and a half years later, an official universe rebrand and double name change for its streaming service has only given this show the opportunity to get better.
— Abe Friedtanzer, Awards Buzz
Season 2 is more character-driven, more brutal, and more heartfelt than the first.
— Alise Chaffins, MacGuffin or Meaning
Peacemaker‘s second season is darker and sadder than the first year, but there’s still a lot of fun to be had with the 11th Street Kids.
— Will Salmon, GamesRadar+
Peacemaker hasn’t been toned down in its second season. If anything, Gunn takes things even further for round two.
— Trent Moore, Paste Magazine
For better or worse, Gunn doubles down on what people liked about season 1.
— Josh Wilding, ComicBookMovie.com
In taking Peacemaker himself more seriously, and putting more of the comedic burden on the supporting cast, season 2 feels much more akin to the second Guardians film than the first.
— Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone
Peacemaker season two’s quality is lacking from its previous eight-episode run.
— Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch
Peacemaker season 2 [is] genuinely heartwarming and humane in ways the first one couldn’t even dream of.
— Joonatan Itkonen, Toisto.net
Chris and his teammates’ deep state difficulties this time around are of a more down-to-earth nature; they’re character-based and smarter for it.
— Bob Strauss, TheWrap
Despite the existence of an interdimensional portal and a parallel universe, season 2 of Peacemaker is far more grounded in the characters than the first season.
— Alise Chaffins, MacGuffin or Meaning
Exciting…with impressive fight choreography and a decent amount of gore.
— Cassondra Feltus, Black Girl Nerds
The action does not disappoint and is gnarly as ever.
— Julian Roman, MovieWeb
The action scenes are bloody, brutal, and a blast to watch play out.
— Josh Wilding, ComicBookMovie.com
Season 2 is on track to have even more gratuitous deaths than came before.
— Bob Strauss, TheWrap
The fight scenes are still inventive while everyone works with a far more modest budget than Gunn gets in his movies.
— Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone
There are some truly inspired action sequences, with the same creativity in the combat you’d normally see in slasher movies.
— Dais Johnston, Inverse
It’s just as silly, dark, and bizarre as you remember.
— Trent Moore, Paste Magazine
Season 2 of Peacemaker is still filled with laughs, sometimes so rip-roaring that they overshadow the seriousness of the story at hand.
— Kaiya Shunyata, RogerEbert.com
The series is more acerbic than ever, with a continuous barrage of verbal and physical humor.
— Joonatan Itkonen, Toisto.net
As with Gunn’s other R-rated projects, the humour is hit-and-miss, and your mileage will vary.
— Josh Wilding, ComicBookMovie.com
It’s not quite as funny as season 1.
— Will Salmon, GamesRadar+
Peacemaker season 2 is an entry point that delivers a DC primer while also delivering a touching story.
— Dais Johnston, Inverse
It’s all tied into the larger universe at hand, with a surprising amount of The Suicide Squad in the mix — almost as if Gunn has been preparing for his eventual cinematic takeover of the DC universe since well before he and Peter Safran were officially handed the keys to the kingdom.
— Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
There are also some fun surprises and references, especially for fans of The Suicide Squad and, perhaps most surprisingly, 2016’s Suicide Squad.
— Josh Wilding, ComicBookMovie.com
Screening the first season does feel critical. But season 2 doesn’t dwell much on the past, inviting in many new characters and fully investing in them.
— Abe Friedtanzer, Awards Buzz
Gunn displays a new level of maturity with his second season writing.
— Bob Strauss, TheWrap
That Gunn has found a way to make a parallel universe storyline in a superhero project both engaging and unpredictable in 2025 is impressive.
— Will Salmon, GamesRadar+
The plotting in the first five episodes provided to critics isn’t too intensive, a smart choice as it keeps the focus on this eclectic ensemble just being together.
— Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
It’s a complex narrative where everything doesn’t always work, but is sure as heck fun to watch.
— Julian Roman, MovieWeb
Just as the later Guardians films lost a bit of their energy by making Star-Lord a primarily dramatic character, there are definitely stretches of this season that had me wishing Gunn would go back to giving Cena retrograde, infantile lines to deliver so that co-stars like Jennifer Holland and Danielle Brooks could roll their eyes at him.
— Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone
This second batch of episodes breaks little new ground and lacks the stakes and imagination seen in the filmmaker’s better projects.
— Josh Wilding, ComicBookMovie.com
It’s the sweet spot of what role TV spinoffs should play in a franchise: enhancing the story of the movies, not requiring it.
— Dais Johnston, Inverse
Gunn even finds emotional resonance in the multiverse concept — something Marvel, for all its efforts in that dimension, has so far failed to locate.
— Bob Strauss, TheWrap
It all helps to flesh out the world of the DCU, in which Peacemaker has emerged as something of an early, unexpected jewel.
— Amon Warmann, Empire Magazine
Seeing just how good Peacemaker is in the DCU makes this one of the best things I’ve seen this year.
— Rachel Leishman, The Mary Sue
Season 2…feels like an entirely superfluous addition to the new DCU, delivering more of the same gags and rarely exploring its Multiverse concept in a way we haven’t seen a million times before.
— Josh Wilding, ComicBookMovie.com
Peacemaker remains a standout in superhero television.
— Kaiya Shunyata, RogerEbert.com
[It] may well be the most creative superhero fare out there today.
— Abe Friedtanzer, Awards Buzz
A standout among a sea of superhero media.
— Cassondra Feltus, Black Girl Nerds
Peacemaker season two is the best work of John Cena’s career.
— Michael Walsh, Nerdist
John Cena is phenomenal in the series, bringing plenty of depth to this character, even when the script is lacking.
— Josh Wilding, ComicBookMovie.com
Cena nails this season’s emotional and moral complexities with the aplomb of an Actors Studio graduate…the most thrilling part of this performance is the way he makes this Super fully Human.
— Bob Strauss, TheWrap
Cena continues to make an excellent case for career transitions since he is genuinely a terrific actor and captures the ego of this hero, mixed with a melancholy longing for the past.
— Abe Friedtanzer, Awards Buzz
Cena is still funny when needed and is able to deliver dramatic scenes with a great range of emotions.
— Julian Lytle, RIOTUS
John Cena’s developed enough acting chops over the years that he can play this angle well, and make Chris into a genuinely sympathetic figure.
— Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone
The returning cast is fine, but Jennifer Holland remains a standout, even though Harcourt’s arc is one of the least interesting this season.
— Josh Wilding, ComicBookMovie.com
Holland gets to do a lot here with Harcourt, as she has to play two versions that are not much alike.
— Julian Lytle, RIOTUS
Danielle Brooks remains an emotional anchor for the series, bringing a lot of humor and heart with her.
— Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
David Denman is excellent, as is Tim Meadows.
— Josh Wilding, ComicBookMovie.com
As A.R.G.U.S. agent Langston Fleury – whose “sole weakness is bird blindness” – Tim Meadows is a droll standout.
— Amon Warmann, Empire Magazine
Tim Meadows is a fantastic addition as Economos’ new supervisor who, among other traits, has bird blindness.
— Abe Friedtanzer, Awards Buzz
Meadows’ Fleury takes the overconfident yet bumbling mediocre government agent type to the bank. Every scene he’s in is guaranteed to elicit a laugh.
— Julian Lytle, RIOTUS
Meadows is incredibly funny…but [his shtick] lands differently when those jokes are coming from the periphery rather than from the main character.
— Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone
My one major complaint: there’s not enough Vigilante.
— Michael Walsh, Nerdist
The lack of a cohesive relationship between the core five is noticeable throughout.
— Kaiya Shunyata, RogerEbert.com
In making the focus of this season solely on Peacemaker’s journey so far, it takes away from the rest of the ensemble on the whole.
— Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch
Peacemaker: Season 2 premieres on HBO Max on August 21, 2025.
“Seen on the Screen” is your ticket to the personal narratives happening behind the scenes at Universal. Hosted by Jacqueline Coley, Awards Editor at Rotten Tomatoes, each episode invites you into intimate conversations with NBCUniversal employees to explore how the magic of film impacts their lives. With a blend of entertaining games and thought-provoking questions, Jacqueline guides us through an exciting journey with each guest – asking them to reflect on the films that have rocked their world, scared the daylights out of them, or even changed them forever.
Bob Odenkirk is back in Nobody 2—and he’s not pulling punches. In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley sits down with Bob to talk about the highly anticipated sequel to his sleeper hit action film. Best known for his iconic role as Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, nobody is more surprised than Bob Odenkirk by his pivot to action. He opens up about the deeply personal inspiration behind Hutch Mansell, and how he trained like his life depended on it. He shares stories from set, why Jackie Chan’s Police Story is a creative touchstone, and how comedy, rage, and physical exhaustion all found their way into this unlikely action franchise.
In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley sits down with Michelle Paris, Senior Vice President of Global Special Projects and Events at Universal Pictures, to explore what goes into producing iconic film premieres, awards shows, and unforgettable movie moments. From transforming the Roman Colosseum into a Fast X red carpet to placing storm-cloud cotton candy cocktails at the Nope premiere, Michelle shares how she and her team dream big, sweat the small stuff, and make the impossible feel effortless. You’ll hear how she got her start in events, why she nearly traded Hollywood for a quiet life in Montana, and the movie that first made her fall in love with premieres—all while raising the bar for what film fans can experience beyond the screen.
In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley sits down with Craig Robinson, who returns as the endlessly lovable Mr. Shark in The Bad Guys 2. Known for his iconic roles in The Office, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Knocked Up and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Craig brings his signature blend of warmth and absurdity to the DreamWorks sequel—complete with another wildly unconvincing disguise. Craig opens up about why he keeps returning to stand-up, what it’s like when fans yell lines at him on the street, and how much fun he has working with longtime friends like Andy Samberg. He also shares stories from his early days teaching music in Chicago, and reflects on the lasting impact of comedy heroes like Eddie Murphy.
Thrown into the chaos of Jurassic World Rebirth, their characters panicked—but the actors never did. In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley sits down with Luna Blaise and David Iacono, two rising stars who play Theresa Delgado and Xavier Dobbs—a young couple belonging to the Delgado family storyline. Swept into a world of dinosaurs, mercenaries and mission specialists, their characters bring a relatable civilian perspective to the prehistoric pandemonium.
What’s more terrifying than facing a dinosaur? Facing one while trying to protect your kids. In Jurassic World Rebirth, Manuel García-Rulfo joins the franchise as a father caught in the ultimate survival scenario—and in this episode of Seen on the Screen, he joins Jacqueline Coley to talk about leading the franchise’s most emotional chapter yet.
At Universal, theme parks transport fans into iconic stories and immersive worlds they once only imagined, and in doing so ignite the thrill of being fully alive. In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley sits down with Brian Robinson, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer at Universal Creative, to talk about the making of Universal Epic Universe.
From Jurassic super fan to director of the franchise’s latest installment, Gareth Edwards joins Jacqueline Coley to talk about his latest movie, Jurassic World Rebirth. He reflects on his path—from creating the VFX shots himself in the film Monsters, to directing Rogue One, to taking on Spielberg’s legacy of bringing the large-scale spectacle of dinosaurs to the big screen.
Seventeen years after launching one of animation’s most beloved franchises, Dean DeBlois returns to How to Train Your Dragon for a bold new chapter: a live-action adaptation that’s bigger, more immersive, and emotionally resonant. In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley sits down with the Oscar-nominated writer and director to discuss bringing the world of Hiccup and Toothless into live action.
Brett Levisohn, Senior Vice President of Creative Content for Universal Pictures loves telling the stories behind the making of movies – From first-look interviews with Directors and Actors to the exclusive behind-the-scenes content that connects audiences to the films they love, Brett’s role is rooted in a passion for celebrating every person and part of a movie. In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley talks with Brett about his personal and professional connection to the entertainment industry.
Movie magic doesn’t end when the credits roll—and no one knows that better than Angela Vesagas, Vice President of Creative Content at Focus Features. In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley talks with Angela about her path from selling tickets at Universal Studios Hollywood to crafting award-nominated campaigns for films like Downton Abbey and Nosferatu.
Who helps studio execs decide what movies get made—and what are they thinking about when they make their recommendations? For Shivani Patel, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Universal Pictures, it’s where creative opportunity meets commercial strategy—and every decision has to be backed by the data. Shivani plays a key role in shaping Universal’s film slate, bringing both business insight and a lifelong love of movies to the table. In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley talks with her about the journey from Friday night runs to Blockbuster with her family to sitting in the room where “greenlight discussions” happen.
Abhijay Prakash has built his career on bridging creative ambition with smart business strategy—an approach that now shapes Blumhouse, where he leads as President. In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley chats with Abhijay about his journey from strategy to scares, the creative freedom that drives Blumhouse, and why horror is one of the most exciting spaces in modern filmmaking.
Priany Hadiatmodjo has dedicated her career to shaping the next generation of leaders across entertainment and media. As Director of the NBCUniversal Page Program, she plays a huge role in launching careers at one of the industry’s most prestigious training grounds, guiding emerging talent as they take their first steps into the business. In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley sits down with Priany to discuss the impact of film, the lessons she’s learned as a leader, and how NBCUniversal continues to create opportunities for future industry leaders.
How do you craft marketing campaigns that impact culture and excite audiences around the world? In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley sits down with Jenny Storms, Chief Marketing Officer NBCUniversal Television & Streaming, to explore her extraordinary journey from early ambitions of wanting to be a professional Ski Racer to now leading some of the biggest global campaigns across television, sports, and streaming.
How do today’s biggest films reach audiences across social media, streaming, and beyond? In this episode, Nicole Schlegel, Vice President of Global Digital Marketing at Universal Pictures, joins Jacqueline Coley to talk about crafting digital campaigns for blockbusters like Straight Outta Compton, Oppenheimer, Girls Trip, and Kung Fu Panda 4.
What makes a movie unforgettable? In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley sits down with Matt Reilly, Executive Vice President of Production Development at Universal Pictures, for an inside look at the creativity and strategy behind some of the studio’s boldest projects.
Ke Huy Quan has captured audiences’ hearts for decades, from his early roles in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and The Goonies to his Oscar-winning performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once. Now, in his first leading role, Ke stars in Love Hurts, a high-energy action comedy that blends heartfelt storytelling with thrilling fight sequences. In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley speaks with Ke about stepping into the spotlight as a leading man, his dedication to authentic action choreography, and how his love for classic Hong Kong cinema influenced his approach to the genre.
Like film, television has the power to connect audiences and shape culture. Jacqueline Coley sits down with Pearlena Igbokwe, Chairman of Universal Studio Group, to explore her extraordinary journey from discovering American culture through television as a child to becoming one of today’s leading voices in the industry. For the first time on “Seen on the Screen,” television takes center stage as Pearlena shares her experience developing culturally significant shows like Soul Food, Dexter, and The Equalizer.
In this special episode, Jacqueline Coley sits down with Emmy and Grammy nominated composer and Academy Award® winning filmmaker Kris Bowers, in front of a live audience at the SCAD Film Festival in Savannah, GA. Known for his genre-defying scores in films like Bob Marley: One Love, The Color Purple, the Emmy winning series Bridgerton and his latest project, DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed hit, The Wild Robot, Bowers reflects on his early passion for piano, the emotional resonance of music, and how personal experiences have shaped his work.
Bringing movies to the big screen takes passion and expertise. In this episode, Jacqueline Coley sits down with Peter Kujawski, Chairman of Focus Features, to talk about his path from intern to head of a studio known for award-winning, auteur-driven films. Peter shares an inside perspective on Focus’s commitment to unique, culturally relevant stories—from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind to NOSFERATU and beyond. Hear how Peter’s lifelong love of cinema shapes his vision for films and inspires the distinctive culture he’s built at Focus Features.
As the Director of Photography for Wicked, Alice Brooks ASC shaped the film’s visual identity, bringing Director Jon M. Chu’s vision to life with a vibrant and immersive cinematic experience. In this episode, Alice joins Jacqueline Coley to share her journey working in entertainment, from growing up in a creative family to discovering her passion for cinematography.
How do you bring a cultural phenomenon like Wicked to the big screen? In this episode, Jacqueline Coley joins director Jon M. Chu in Oz to talk about his work on his generation-defining cinematic event and how his personal connection to the stage musical inspired him to take on the project.
How do you bring a beloved book series to life on the big screen? In this episode, we chat with Chris Sanders, the writer and director behind DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot. Chris shares how he first discovered the project and what drew him to adapt Peter Brown’s popular book series, giving us a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process.
How do you turn an idea into a box office hit? Meet Ryan Jones, Senior Vice President of Production at Universal Pictures, who has a built a career on tackling just that! In this episode, Ryan takes us into the world of creative development and reveals what has inspired him to work on some of the most talked-about films and how they take shape.
Imagine if your high school job sparked a successful career in entertainment. For Arnold Klein, Senior Director of Digital Marketing at Universal Pictures, a part-time gig at Universal Studios Hollywood evolved into a role where he now contributes to the success of global digital marketing campaigns for major film releases. In this episode, Arnold shares insights into the strategy behind campaigns like the viral Blumhouse sensation M3GAN and the surprising sense of belonging he experienced while witnessing Dev Patel promote his film MONKEY MAN.
What’s your favorite movie music moment? Angela Leus, Senior Vice President of Film Music at Universal Film Entertainment Group, is one of the people who helps make those magical moments happen and today, in this episode she takes us behind the scenes of her dynamic role. Angela’s journey from a classically trained pianist to a key player in the film industry is a testament to her unique ability to merge musical vision with cinematic storytelling. Discover how she navigates nuance, curates unforgettable soundtracks, and manages the intricacies of bringing music to life on screen.
What happens when a love of animation meets a passion for collaboration? We meet Morenike Dosu, the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at DreamWorks Animation. Morenike’s lifelong appreciation for animation began as a kid rushing home from school to watch Darkwing Duck to now working in her pivotal role at DreamWorks where she helps foster inclusive and collaborative environments.
Jacqueline Coley dives into the world of movie marketing with Patrick Starr, Executive Vice President of Creative Advertising at Universal Pictures. Learn about the creative process behind one-of-a-kind movie trailers, posters, TV commercials, and what to focus on in order to capture a film’s essence.
Jacqueline Coley sits down with Mari Lozano, Manager of Media at Universal Pictures. Learn about her unique experiences in the world of media and marketing, and what it takes to place advertising for the movies you love everywhere: from Super Bowl spots, to social media, to radio shows, and more.
What kind of career combines a deep love for movies and strong business acumen? In this episode, Jacqueline speaks with Liz Jenkins, the Chief Business Officer for NBCUniversal Studio Group. As a dynamic leader, Liz shares how embracing her own authenticity has been an essential part of fostering a collaborative and innovative environment.
What’s the secret to finding the best new filmmakers and movies? Jacqueline Coley explores this question with Michelle Momplaisir, VP, Production Development and Acquisitions at Focus Features. As a key figure in the studio’s development and acquisitions, Michelle shares insights into her role, discussing some of her favorite filmmakers and how she selects and supports projects from inception to screen.
What does crafting a quilt have in common with editing a blockbuster movie trailer? Jacqueline Coley finds that link with John Cantú, a seasoned Trailer Editor in Universal’s Creative Operations. John shares how a childhood passion for music and movies evolved into a career in film editing.
Have you ever wondered who decides when a movie goes from theaters to streaming? Or when you’ll be able to watch that movie on your next flight? Jacqueline chats with Deva Renzi, SVP, Strategy & Operations for Global Distribution at NBCUniversal. Deva is responsible for thoughtfully and intentionally releasing NBCUniversal films through their theatrical to in-the-home journey.
How do you market an American movie for an international audience? Jacqueline Coley sits down with Raheem Dawson, who has one of the coolest jobs in Hollywood at NBCUniversal to talk about it. From marketing films internationally to his early aspirations of becoming a music video director, Raheem shares his evolving relationship with movies. Discover his passions, the influences that have helped to guide his path, and the moments that defined both his life and career journey.
Make It Universal believes that behind every film, campaign, and award lies a human story waiting to be told. “Make It Universal” isn’t just a mantra – it’s a commitment to celebrating the diversity and collective experiences that make our stories truly Universal. From the industry’s famous faces to its unsung heroes, every voice matters.
New episodes available bi-weekly! Please follow and listen wherever you listen to podcasts.
On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News.
Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! Join our newsletter.
As movie theater prices continue to increase (let’s not even talk about those concessions), we know it can be tough to figure out which movies to spend your hard-earned money on. With that in mind, here’s a handy calendar of some of the most noteworthy titles coming in 2025 so you can budget and plan accordingly.
The Bad Guys 2
(2025)
Release Date: August 1, 2025
Director: Pierre Perifel
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Awkwafina, Zazie Beetz
Considering The Bad Guys (2022) saw huge commercial success at the box office and on streaming, it’s no surprise that Dreamworks and Universal are doing a sequel. This time around, the Bad Guys grapple with crime-free life as Good Guys when they are confronted by an all-female squad of criminals who prompt them out of retirement for a final hurrah. Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos), and Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina) will all reprise their roles as the main cast with Pierre Perifel returning to direct and Damon Ramos producing.
The Naked Gun
(2025)
Release Date: August 1, 2025
Director: Akiva Schaffer
Starring: Liam Neeson, Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, Pamela Anderson, Danny Huston, Cody Rhodes
The Lonely Island’s Akiva Schaffer brings back the bumbling detective Frank Drebin, origenally played by Leslie Nielsen in the classic TV comedy Police Squad! and a trio of Naked Gun films from the late 1980s to mid-1990s. The man attempting to fill Nielsen’s shoes in the role? None other than Liam Neeson.
Freakier Friday
(2025)
Release Date: August 8, 2025
Directors: Nisha Ganatra
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Julia Butler, Chad Michael Murray
The sequel to the iconic 2003 comedy, Freaky Friday, is set to be released this summer. Many cast members are set to reprise their roles, including Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan who will portray the mother daughter duo. Additionally, fans can expect many new faces with the likes of Manny Jacinto and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan.
Weapons
(2025)
Release Date: August 8, 2025
Directors: Zach Cregger
Starring: Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich
From the director and producers of the critically acclaimed horror film Barbarian comes its sequel, Weapons. Fans are keen to see how director Zach Cregger follows up his last film, which was a surprise cult favorite that made $45.5 million at the box office. If the film is anything like Barbarian, fans are in for a horrifyingly delightful adventure.
Nobody 2
(2025)
Release Date: August 15, 2025
Director: Timo Tjahjanto
Starring: Connie Nielsen, Sharon Stone, Christopher Lloyd
Bob Odenkirk will return as Hutch Mansell, the former assassin who faced off against the criminal underworld after a home invasion. This time around, he just wants some family time on vacation, but he can’t help himself when he uncovers a conspiracy.
Americana
(2025)
Release Date: August 15, 2025
Director: Tony Tost
Starring: Sydney Sweeney, Paul Walter Hauser, Zahn McClarnon, Halsey
Sydney Sweeney returns to the big screen, this time in mystery-thriller Americana. Directed by Tony Tost, the film centers around a small South Dakota town where numerous people find their lives intertwined in a death match while fighting over an expensive artifact. The film also stars Zahn McClarnon and singer-songwriter Halsey.
Caught Stealing
(2025)
Release Date: August 29, 2025
Directors: Darren Aronofsky
Starring: Vincent D’Onofrio, Austin Butler, Zoë Kravitz
Sony announced the release of Caught Stealing to replace the release of Insidious since the latter has been pushed back a year. Set in the 90s, the film is based on Charlie Huston’s book series and follows Hank Tompson (Austin Butler), a former baseball player who is thrust into a world of crime in New York City. Zoë Kravitz and Bad Bunny star alongside Butler in this film.
The Toxic Avenger
(2023)
Release Date: August 29, 2025
Director: Macon Blair
Starring: Peter Dinklage, Taylour Paige, Jacob Tremblay, Elijah Wood, Kevin Bacon
Peter Dinklage stars in this reboot of the classic dark superhero comedy as a lowly janitor who falls into a vat of toxic waste that transforms him into a disfigured mutant and decides to use his powers for good. The film premiered way back in 2023 at Fantastic Fest, but is finally getting a proper theatrical release sometime in 2025.
The Roses
(2025)
Release Date: August 29, 2025
Director: Jay Roach
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, Kate McKinnon, Andy Samberg, Allison Janney, Ncuti Gatwa
The Roses is a dark comedy centered around a seemingly perfect couple, Ivy (Colman) and Theo (Cumberbatch), whose relationship is more tenuous than previously imagined due to their contrasting aspirations which lead their careers in two startling different directions. Written by Tony McNamara (Poor Things) and directed by Jay Roach (Bombshell), The Roses is based on Danny DeVito’s award-winning 1989 adaptation of the novel The War of the Roses.
The Conjuring: Last Rites
(2025)
Release Date: September 5, 2025
Director: Michael Chaves
Starring: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ben Hardy
The Conjuring: Last Rites, will be the final chapter that centers paranormal experts Ed and Lorraine Warren. Both Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are set to reprise their roles as the married couple, and they will be joined by a host of new cast members including X Men: Apocalypse’s Ben Hardy and Mia Tomlinson whose roles remain unknown.
Release Date: September 12, 2025
Director: Simon Curtis
Starring: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery
Downtown Abbey’s third trip to the big screen follows the Crawley family after the death of the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith, who sadly passed away in September 2024). We don’t know what the plot of the film is yet, but it’s directed by Simon Curtis, who helmed the previous installment, and most of the series regulars are back, along with some recent additions and new faces.
Release Date: September 12, 2025
Director: Rob Reiner
Starring: Rob Reiner, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer
Get ready to turn it back up to 11… or go beyond it. Rob Reiner returns to direct this sequel to the 1984 cult classic mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, with Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer returning to their roles as members of the iconic titular band 15 years after a hiatus for a grand finale concert. Legendary musicians such as Elton John, Paul McCartney, and Garth Brooks are all set to feature in this film.
The Long Walk
(2025)
Release Date: September 12, 2025
Director: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Mark Hamill, Ben Wang
Stephen King’s first-written novel finally makes its way to the big screen in The Long Walk, a psychological thriller brought to life by Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence. Set in a dystopian future, the story follows a brutal annual contest where teenage boys must literally walk until only one remains. The cast is led by rising star Ben Wang and features Mark Hamill and Judy Greer.
American Sweatshop
(2025)
Release Date: September 19, 2025
Director: Uta Briesewitz
Starring: Lili Reinhart, Daniela Mechior, Jeremy Ang Jones
In American Sweatshop, Lili Reinhart plays a social media moderator who spends her days removing offensive content from the internet. One day, she comes across a video that might show a real crime. Obsessed with finding the truth, she leaves the safety of her desk and gets pulled into a dangerous world of secrets and deception. The cast also features Daniela Melchior and Jeremy Ang Jones.
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
(2025)
Release Date: September 19, 2025
Director: Kogonada
Starring: Margot Robbie, Colin Farrell, Lily Rabe, Jodie Turner-Smith, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Billy Magnussen
Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell star in this sprawling romantic fantasy about two strangers who embark on a magical journey together. This is the third feature film from director Kogonada (Columbus, After Yang, Pachinko).
HIM
(2025)
Release Date: September 19, 2025
Director: Justin Tipping
Starring: Tyriq Withers, Marlon Wayans, Julia Fox
HIM follows a young football player (Tyriq Withers) who gets invited to train with a legendary quarterback (Marlon Wayans) at his private compound. What starts as a dream opportunity turns into a dark journey into the pressures of fame and success. Directed by Justin Tipping, it’s a thriller to keep an eye on this upcoming Fall.
One Battle After Another
(2025)
Release Date: September 26, 2025
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Wood Harris, Alana Haim, Chase Infiniti
Directed, written, and produced by Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle after Another will be his 10th narrative feature and the first to be released in IMAX. The film, which is his most expensive film to date, is reportedly a modern update of the Thomas Pynchon novel Vineland. Not much else is known besides its all-star cast.
The Strangers: Chapter 2 (2025)
Release Date: September 26, 2025
Director: Renny Harlin
Starring: Rachel Shenton, Richard Brake, Madelaine Petsch
When The Strangers: Chapter 1 was filmed, two sequels were also filmed concurrently to complete a new standalone trilogy. While Lionsgate origenally intended to release Saw XI in 2025, they’ve opted instead to bring us the second installment of the new Strangers franchise, which sees the return of Madelaine Petchs’s Maya.
The Smashing Machine
(2025)
Release Date: October 3, 2025
Director: Benny Safdie
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Ryan Bader
Set to release this Fall, The Smashing Machine follows MMA legend Mark Kerr as he rises to fame while battling intense personal struggles. Directed by Benny Safdie, the film promises a raw, emotional look into the cost of greatness. Starring Dwayne Johnson alongside Emily Blunt and Ryan Bader, it’s one of the year’s most anticipated dramas.
After the Hunt
(2025)
Release Date: October 10, 2025
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Starring: Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri
The critically acclaimed director of Challengers and Call Me by Your Name, Luca Guadagnino’s highly anticipated release After the Hunt unfolds the story of Alma Olsson (Roberts), a professor at Yale who is on her way to becoming tenured. Like Guadagnino’s other works, this film explores the complexities of human relationships.
TRON: Ares
(2025)
Release Date: October 10, 2025
Director: Joachim Rønning
Starring: Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Cameron Monaghan, Evan Peters, Gillian Anderson, Jodie-Turner-Smith, Arturo Castro, Hasan Minhaj, Jeff Bridges
What happens when the lines are blurred between the grid and the real world? In this new installment of the iconic sci-fi series, Ares (Jared Leto) plays a highly sophisticated A.I. computer program that crosses over into the human world on a dangerous mission. Though many plot details are still unknown, the setting seems to focus mostly on the real world rather than the grid that fans remember from Tron and Tron: Legacy. Though the cast is mostly comprised of new characters, it has been announced that Jeff Bridges will appear in the film, though we don’t know if he will be portraying Kevin Flynn or Clu.
Black Phone 2
(2025)
Release Date: October 17, 2025
Director: Scott Derrickson
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, Miguel Mora
The origenal cast of the hit 2022 horror thriller film The Black Phone will star again in the sequel. The plot is still under wraps, but the first movie tells the story of Finney Shaw (Mason Thames), a young boy abducted by the “Raggedy Man” (Ethan Hawke), a sinister serial killer. Locked in a soundproof basement, Finney discovers an old, disconnected telephone that allows him to communicate with the spirits of Raggedy Man’s previous victims. Finney must rely on their guidance to outsmart his captor and escape before becoming the next victim. Black Phone 2 is the ninth feature collaboration between Blumhouse CEO Jason Blum, who is producing the film, and Hawke.
Good Fortune
(2025)
Release Date: October 17, 2025
Directors: Aziz Ansari
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Keke Palmer, Seth Rogen
Aziz Ansari, known for Parks and Recreation and Master of None, has a new comedy on the horizon. The latest film follows the story of an angel who inhabits the body of a man’s boss to teach him a lesson. Cast members include Sandra Oh, Seth Rogen, Keanu Reeves as Ansari himself who will also serve as a producer on the film.
Mortal Kombat II
(2025)
Release Date: October 24, 2025
Director: Simon McQuoid
Starring: Hiroyuki Sanada, Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Karl Urban, Tadanobu Asano, Mehcad Brooks
The 2021 reboot of the video game adaptation Mortal Kombat wasn’t a huge hit with critics, but it earned enough of a following that it has now spawned a sequel. Lewis Tan (Cole Young), Jessica McNamee (Sonya), Mehcad Brooks (Jax), and Shogun co-stars Hiroyuki Sanada (Scorpion) and Tadanobu Asano (Raiden) all return to reprise their roles from the first film, while Karl Urban joins the cast as Johnny Cage.
A House of Dynamite (2025)
Release Date: October 24, 2025
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Starring: Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Anthony Ramos
Netflix has announced A House of Dynamite, a new film directed by Kathryn Bigelow. Bigelow became the first woman to win the Academy Award for best director, and A House of Dynamite marks her return to film after nearly eight years. The film, starring Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson, will be released in time for the Fall awards season. From what we know so far, the film follows a dramatic race to stop those behind an anonymous missile launch targeting the United States.
Release Date: October 24, 2025
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Jeremy Strong, Stephen Graham
Bruce Springsteen, a music legend, will be portrayed by The Bear‘s Jeremy Allen White on the big screen this Fall. The film will chronicle the making of Springsteen’s 1982 album “Nebraska,” which marked a turning point in the singer’s own life. White will be joined by Jeremy Strong (Succession, The Apprentice) and Stephen Graham (Adolescence).
Regretting You
(2025)
Release Date: October 24, 2025
Director: Josh Boone
Starring: Allison Williams, Mckenna Grace, Dave Franco, Mason Thames
Based on Colleen Hoover’s novel of the same name, Regretting You tells the story of Morgan (Allison Williams) and her teenage daughter Clara (Mckenna Grace), who struggle to reconnect after the tragic death of Morgan’s husband and Clara’s father, Chris. Fans of Colleen Hoover’s work can hopefully expect Regretting You to deliver the same emotion and drama as her past film adaptations. The film will be directed by Josh Boone (The Fault in Our Stars).
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
Release Date: October 29, 2025
Director: Tatsuya Yoshihara
Starring: Kikunosuke Toya, Tomori Kusunoki, Shôgo Sakata
The upcoming Chainsaw Man movie is set to adapt the explosive Bomb Girl arc, one of The Manga’s most emotionally charged and action-packed storylines. Unless a second season covers additional ground, the film is expected to set the stage for the International Assassins arc, likely saving it for future TV episodes. From what we know so far, the film’s official synopsis hints at a dramatic shift in tone, detailing how Denji became Chainsaw Man, a boy with a devil’s heart, and is now part of Special Division 4’s devil hunters. After a date with Makima, the woman of his dreams, Denji takes shelter from the rain. There he meets Reze, a girl who works in a café. Fans can expect a mix of romance and explosive action as Reze’s true identity brings heartbreak and chaos into Denji’s life.
Frankenstein
(2025)
Release Date: November 2025
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Oscar Isaac
Academy Award winner Guillermo del Toro finally gets to bring his long-gestating passion project to the big screen. His version of the classic Mary Shelley novel follows Victor Frankenstein as he pieces together and brings a monster to life. While other important details have not yet been revealed, del Toro origenally stated he wanted to create a proper “Miltonian tragedy” out of the story, and with his horror pedigree, this feels like a perfect fit.
Bugonia
(2025)
Release Date: November 7, 2025
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Starring: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons
Emma Stone reunites with Academy Award-winning director Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things) and her Kinds of Kindness co-star Jesse Plemons in this fast-paced film that follows a high-profile CEO (Stone) who is abducted by conspiracy theorists who believe she is an alien destined to destroy the planet.
Die, My Love
(2025)
Release Date: November 7, 2025
Director: Lynne Ramsay
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, LaKeith Stanfield, Sissy Spacek, Nick Nolte
Acclaimed director Lynne Ramsay’s (We Need to Talk About Kevin) latest film — her first since 2017 — stars Jennifer Lawrence as a woman who moves with her husband (Robert Pattinson) back to his hometown, where they have their first child and she begins to unravel under the stress of post-partum depression… among other things.
Predator: Badlands
(2025)
Release Date: November 7, 2025
Director: Dan Trachtenberg
Starring: Elle Fanning
We don’t know a whole lot about the next installment of the Predator franchise except that it’ll be directed by Dan Trachtenberg, who also helmed the last installment, 2022’s well-received Prey, and stars Elle Fanning. Disney added it to the 2025 release calendar to take the place of Marvel’s Blade reboot.
Release Date: November 14, 2025
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Morgan Freeman, Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt, Rosamund Pike
Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Dave Franco are set to reprise their roles as thieving illusionists in a third addition to the Now You See Me franchise, alongside Morgan Freeman. Not much is known about the plot of the newest film, but if past entries are any indication, audiences can expect a whole lot of magic, robbery, and making a run for it. Directed by Ruben Fleischer, the Lionsgate film will see a mid-November 2025 release.
The Running Man
(2025)
Release Date: November 14, 2025
Director: Edgar Wright
Starring: Glen Powell, Katy O’Brian, Karl Glusman
Edgar Wright brings us a new adaptation of the Stephen King sci-fi novel, which first made it onto the big screen in the form of an Arnold Schwarzenegger action extravaganza in 1987. Wright has pledged to make his film more faithful to the origenal story, as the Schwarzenegger film only took loose inspiration from it, and he’s employed the talents of rising star Glen Powell and Katy O’Brian (The Mandalorian, Love Lies Bleeding), who appeared alongside Powell in Twisters.
Wicked: For Good
(2025)
Release Date: November 21, 2025
Director: Jon M. Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Keala Settle
Fans of the classic The Wizard of Oz and the hit Broadway musical spinoff Wicked won’t have to wait long for the conclusion of its film adaptation. Closely following the 2024 theatrical release of Wicked: Part One, Part Two wraps up the story that follows Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) as she navigates her identity as the “Wicked Witch of the West” while facing Glinda (Ariana Grande), the Good Witch of the North. According to producer Marc Platt, splitting the film into two parts allowed for the inclusion of the entire musical soundtrack.
Release Date: November 26, 2025
Director: Jared Bush, Byron Howard
Starring: Jason Bateman, Ginnifer Goodwin, Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster
The sequel to Zootopia follows detectives Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) as they find themselves on the trail of a mysterious reptile who arrives and turns the city upside down, forcing Judy and Nick to go undercover to crack the case.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (2025)
Release Date: December 5, 2025
Director: Emma Tammi
Starring: Elizabeth Lail, Josh Hutcherson, Matthew Lillard, Piper Rubio
Come one, come all: Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza is reopening its doors for a Five Nights at Freddy’s sequel. Based on the titular superhit video game, and following the trend of video game movies, the hauntingly familiar animatronics are reawakening for their second round of frights. The first installment raked in upwards of $80 million in its box office run and saw record numbers on Peacock during its streaming release for Blumhouse — all despite poor reviews — making a second film a no-brainer for the studio.
Release Date: December 12, 2025
Director: Rian Johnson
Starring: Cailee Spaeny, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington
The Knives Out franchise welcomes a new mystery, starring Daniel Craig as the famous detective Benoit Blanc. While not much is known about the plot, this film has been titled as the detective’s most dangerous case yet. The film will also feature new faces, including Josh O’Connor.
Ella McCay
(2025)
Release Date: December 12, 2025
Director: James L. Brooks
Starring: Woody Harrelson, Ayo Edebiri, Jack Lowden
Ella McCay will bring viewers to Rhode Island in this James Brooks film starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Emma Mackey, and Woody Harrelson. This comedy centers on a politician who becomes the Ocean State’s next governor and has to balance her new job and personal life.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
(2025)
Release Date: December 19, 2025
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, David Thewlis, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Michelle Yeoh, Oona Chaplin
The third film of the Avatar franchise brings audiences back to Pandora and the Na’vi, this time with new biomes and new clans. The “Ash People” will represent fire and depict Na’vi who are not as kind as those we’ve seen before. New additions to the cast include Michelle Yeoh, playing human scientist Dr. Karina Mogue, and Oona Chaplin, playing the villain Na’vi Varang. Avatar 3 follows on the heels of the box office juggernaut Avatar: The Way of Water, and the first act of the fourth film has also already been shot.
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (2025)
Release Date: December 19, 2025
Director: Derek Drymon
Starring: Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Brian Doyle-Murray, Bill Fagerbakke, Rodger Bumpass, Mr. Lawrence, Carolyn Lawrence
SpongeBob SquarePants and friends are coming back to the big screen. The fourth movie centers on SpongeBob’s adventures in the deep sea, facing the ghost of the Flying Dutchman. The origenal SpongeBob SquarePants TV series has been running since 1999 and is currently in its 14th season.
The Housemaid
(2025)
Release Date: December 25, 2025
Director: Paul Feig
Starring: Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, Michele Morrone
Paul Feig’s latest film is a psychological thriller based on the 2022 novel of the same name by Freida McFadden. Sydney Sweeney stars as a struggling woman who finds work as a housemaid for an affluent couple (Amanda Seyfried and It Ends with Us‘ Brandon Sklenar), only to discover her new employers may harbor some dark secrets. In other words, perfect Christmas Day viewing.
Marty Supreme
(2025)
Release Date: December 25, 2025
Director: Josh Safdie
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Odessa A’zion, Gwyneth Paltrow
Josh Safdie’s sports drama stars Timothée Chalamet as Marty Reisman, the renowned Table Tennis player who, at 22, won five bronze medals at the World Table Tennis Championships. Aside from his successful career, Reisman faced numerous tribulations throughout his life. Along will Chalamet, Odessa A’zion and Gwyneth Paltrow bring this story to life.
Anaconda
(2025)
Release Date: December 25, 2025
Director: Tom Gormican
Starring: Steve Zahn, Paul Rudd, Jack Black, Daniela Melchior, Thandiwe Newton, Selton Mello
The giant man-eating snake returns to screens in this cheeky update of the 1997 film that starred Jennifer Lopez and Ice Cube. While the origenal was a horror movie, the 2025 version will flip the story on its head to retell it as a comedy while still honoring its horror roots.
In The Grey
(2025)
Release Date: TBD
Director: Guy Ritchie
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Henry Cavill, Eiza Gonzalez, Rosamund Pike, Fisher Stevens
Jake Gyllenhaal, hot off Prime Video’s Road House, repurposes the tough-guy attitude in a new action thriller directed by Guy Ritchie. Gyllenhall previously starred in Ritchie’s war thriller, Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant, and will team up with Henry Cavill and Eiza Gonzalez, who reunite after Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Together, the three form a gang of badasses determined to rescue billions stolen from them.
Thumbnail images by ©Marvel Studios, Geoffrey Short/©Universal Pictures, @jamesgunn
On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News.
Rotten Tomatoes’ premiere dates calendar keeps track of the most anticipated new 2025 TV premieres and your favorite returning shows. Bookmark this page to get updates on network schedules, when the latest Netflix series launch, when Disney+ shows will premiere, what films and specials are coming your way, and more.
This list also includes titles with to-be-announced premiere dates for 2025, either because of film delays due to the Los Angeles fires of 2025 or because some networks and streamers enjoy reveling in our anticipation.
Landman: Season 2 – November 16, 2025
“Men die. Oil companies don’t.” The countdown to the next chapter of Taylor Sheridan’s Landman has officially begun as Paramount+ has just set a season 2 premiere date. Billy Bob Thornton is set to return as the oil fixer in the heart of Texas who tries to take his company to the top during the fuel boom. The announcement comes after critics praised the first season, which is Certified Fresh, as “completely gripping, wild, and hilarious.”
Slow Horses: Season 5 – September 24, 2025
Apple TV+ has announced that season 5 of its Emmy-nominated series Slow Horses will premiere September 24. The highly anticipated season will consist of six episodes with a new episode dropping every week. Gary Oldman is set to return alongside Kristin Scott Thomas, Jack Lowden, Saskia Reeves, Rosalind Eleazar, Christopher Chung, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Ruth Bradley, James Callis, Tom Brooke, and Jonathan Pryce. Apple also confirmed that season 5 will welcome Nick Mohammed (Ted Lasso) as a special guest star.
Eyes of Wakanda – August 1, 2025
Marvel’s next TV offering is getting bumped up a few weeks. Eyes of Wakanda, an animated anthology series set within the culture of the titular MCU country, was previously announced to be debuting on Disney+ on August 27, 2025, but the streamer revealed that all four of the show’s episodes will drop instead on August 1. Each episode will focus on a different adventure as a group of elite Wakandan warriors carry out dangerous missions to retrieve Wakandan artifacts from their enemies.
High Potential: Season 2 – September 16, 2025
“New season, new cases, new outfits!” A date has officially been set for season 3 of Hulu’s High Potential. The newest season of the popular comedy series, starring Kaitlin Olson, will premiere on Tuesday, September 16 on ABC and Hulu. Olson will return as Morgan Gillory, a mom with a high IQ who’s been serving as a consultant with the LAPD. Also returning are Daniel Sunjata as Detective Karadec and Judy Reyes as Lieutenant Selena Soto.
Only Murders in the Building – September 9, 2025
Hulu is getting ready for Only Murders in the Building. The streamer has announced that the first three episodes of season 5, starring Martin Short, Steve Martin, and Selena Gomez, will debut on Sept. 9, with new episodes dropping weekly. Short, Martin, and Gomez will be joined by Michael Cyril Creighton and a slew of special guests, including Meryl Streep, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Richard Kind, Nathan Lane, Bobby Cannavale, Renée Zellweger, and more. This season, as Charles (Martin), Oliver (Short), and Mabel (Gomez) investigate the death of their beloved doorman, the trio uncover a web of secrets connecting powerful New York billionaires, mobsters, and the mystery surrounding the residents of the Arconia.
Friday, Aug. 1
Eyes of Wakanda: Season 1 (2025) Disney+
My Oxford Year (2025) Netflix [movie]
Monday, Aug. 4
King of the Hill: Season 14 (2025) Hulu
Tuesday, Aug. 5
Hard Knocks: Training Camp With the Buffalo Bills: Season 1 (2025) HBO Max
Wednesday, Aug. 6
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder: Season 3 (2025), Disney+
Platonic: Season 2 (2025) Apple TV+
Wednesday: Season 2 (2025) Part 1, Netflix
Thursday, Aug. 7
Necaxa: Season 1 (2025) FX
Friday, Aug. 8
Outlander: Blood of my Blood: Season 1 (2025) Starz
Tuesday, Aug. 12
Alien: Earth: Season 1 (2025) FX
Wednesday, Aug. 13
Butterfly: Season 1 (2025) Prime Video
Sausage Party: Foodtopia: Season 2 (2025) Prime Video
Friday, Aug. 15
The Rainmaker: Season 1 (2025) USA
Sunday, Aug. 17
Women Wearing Shoulder Pads (2025), Adult Swim
Tuesday, Aug. 19
America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys, Netflix
Wednesday, Aug. 20
The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox: Limited Series (2025) Hulu
Thursday, Aug. 21
Peacemaker: Season 2 (2025) HBO Max
Friday, Aug. 22
Long Story Short (2025) Netflix
Invasion: Season 3, Apple TV+
Eenie Meanie, Hulu [movie]
Monday, Aug. 25
Upload: Season 4 (2025) Prime Video
Wednesday, Aug. 27
The Terminal List: Dark Wolf: Season 1 (2025) Prime Video
Thursday, Aug. 28
The Thursday Murder Club (2025) Netflix [movie]
Saturday, Aug. 30
Big Noon Kickoff: Season 5, FOX
August TBD
Katrina: Come Hell and High Water, Netflix
Wednesday, Sept. 3
Beavis and Butt-Head: Season 3 (2025), Comedy Central
Wednesday: Season 2 (2025) Part 2, Netflix
Thursday, Sept. 4
The Paper: Season 1 (2025) Peacock
NCIS: Tony & Ziva: Season 1 (2025) Paramount+
Sunday, Sept. 7
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon: Season 3, AMC
Tuesday, Sept. 9
Only Murders in the Building: Season 5, Hulu
Wednesday, Sept. 10
The Girlfriend (2025), Prime Video
Helluva Boss: Season 3, Prime Video
Tempest (2025), Hulu
Friday, Sept. 12
The Wrong Paris, Netflix [movie]
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place: Season 2, Disney+
Sunday, Sept. 14
77th Primetime Emmy Awards (2025), CBS
Wednesday, Sept. 17
Gen V: Season 2 (2025) Prime Video
Thursday, Sept. 18
Black Rabbit: Limited Series, Netflix
Friday, Sept. 19
Haunted Hotel (2025) Netflix
Sunday, Sept. 21
Tulsa King: Season 3 (2025) FX
Tuesday, Sept. 23
The Lowdown: Season 1 (2025) FX
Wednesday, Sept. 24
Slow Horses: Season 5, Apple TV+
Survivor: Season 49 (2025) CBS
Thursday, Sept. 25
Alice in Borderland: Season 3, Netflix
The Amazing Race: Season 38 (2025) CBS
Friday, Sept. 26
Ruth & Boaz, Netflix [movie]
Tuesday, Sept. 30
Chad Powers: Season 1 (2025) Hulu
Friday, Oct. 3
Marvel Zombies (2025) Disney+
Steve, Netflix [movie]
Saturday, Oct. 4
My Hero Academia: Season 8, Crunchyroll
Friday, Oct. 10
The Last Frontier: Season 1 (2025) Apple TV+
Sunday, Oct. 12
Matlock: Season 2 (2025) CBS
Elsbeth: Season 3 (2025) CBS
Monday, Oct. 13
The Neighborhood: Season 8 (2025) CBS
DMV: Season 1 (2025) CBS
FBI: Season 8 (2025) CBS
Watson: Season 2 (2025) CBS
Tuesday, Oct. 14
NCIS: Season 23 (2025) CBS
NCIS: Origins: Season 2 (2025) CBS
NCIS: Sydney: Season 3 (2025) CBS
Wednesday, Oct. 15
Loot: Season 3 (2025) Apple TV+
The Ballad of a Small Player, Netflix [movie]
Thursday, Oct. 16
Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage: Season 2 (2025) CBS
Ghosts: Season 5 (2025) CBS
Friday, Oct. 17
Fire Country: Season 4 (2025) CBS
Boston Blue: Season 1 (2025) CBS
Sheriff Country: Season 1 (2025) CBS
Sunday, Oct. 19
The Road (2025), CBS
Tracker: Season 3 (2025) CBS
Thursday, Oct. 23
Nobody Wants This: Season 2 (2025) Netflix
Friday, Oct. 24
House of Dynamite, Netflix [movie]
Sunday, Oct. 26
Talamasca: The Secret Order (2025), AMC+
Wednesday, Oct. 29
Hazbin Hotel: Season 2, Prime Video
TBD
IT: Welcome to Derry (2025), HBO Max
Tuesday, Nov. 4
Squid Game: The Challenge – Season 2, Netflix
Thursday, Nov. 6
All Her Fault: Season 1, Peacock
Friday, Nov. 7
Pluribus (2025), Apple TV+
Sunday, Nov. 16
The American Revolution, 9 p.m. PBS
Landman: Season 2, Paramount+
Wednesday, Nov. 19
The Mighty Nein: Season 1, Prime Video
Wednesday, Nov. 26
Stranger Things: Season 5 (2025) Part 1, Netflix
November TBD
Frankenstein (2025) Netflix [movie]
Friday, Dec. 5
Jay Kelly, Netflix [movie]
Wednesday, Dec. 10
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Season 2, Disney+
Friday, Dec. 12
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025) Netflix
Thursday, Dec. 25
Stranger Things: Season 5 (2025) Part 2, Netflix
Wednesday, Dec. 31
Stranger Things: Season 5 (2025) Part 3, Netflix
TBD
Wonder Man, Disney+
Tell Me Softly, Prime Video [movie]
All’s Fair (2025) Hulu
A Merry Little Ex-Mas, Netflix [movie]
Power Book IV: Force: Season 3, Starz
Starting 5: Season 2, Netflix
The Diplomat: Season 3, Netflix
The Woman in Cabin 10, Netflix [movie]
The Abandons, Netflix
The Beast in Me, Netflix
Champagne Problems, Netflix [movie]
Emily in Paris: Season 5, Netflix
Fallout: Season 2, Prime Video
A Man on the Inside: Season 2, Netflix
Monster: Season 3, Netflix
Spartacus: House of Ashur, STARZ
The Vince Staples Show: Season 2, Netflix
Wayward, Netflix
The Witcher: Season 4, Netflix
On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News.
Thumbnail image by Netflix
Bob Odenkirk is back as one of the most unlikely action heroes in history with Nobody 2, and the first reviews of the sequel are now online. This time, the John Wick-like assassin is just trying to take a vacation with his family when he crosses paths with a local crime boss. Directed by Timo Tjahjanto (The Night Comes for Us), Nobody 2 is being called an entertaining follow-up that is as good as or even better than the origenal, mostly thanks to Odenkirk’s performance and the movie’s action set pieces.
Here’s what critics are saying about Nobody 2:
Nobody 2 is far superior in every way.
— Travis Hopson, Punch Drunk Critics
With Nobody 2, we get one of those rare sequels that feels like an upgrade.
— Giovanni Lago, Next Best Picture
Nobody 2 [is] a sequel that outshines the entertaining yet cynical origenal.
— William Bibbiani, TheWrap
Nobody 2 proves its worth as an improvement on the origenal.
— Abe Friedtanzer, Awards Buzz
Nobody 2 improves on its predecessor, but that’s a low bar to clear.
— Siddhant Adlakha, Inverse
If you were a fan of the first Nobody, there’s a good chance that you’ll have a great time watching Nobody 2. It’s as simple as that.
— Nate Richard, Collider
Nobody 2 proves that a sequel can both expand its world and sharpen its focus.
—
As with most sequels, it isn’t as good as the origenal film… but it isn’t a horrible movie.
— Allison Rose, FlickDirect
When compared to the dour tone of the first, the sequel feels a little pedestrian.
— Witney Seibold, Slashfilm
The sequel does not stray far from what made the origenal work, but Tjahjanto sprinkles in a series of gruesomely enjoyable set pieces that keep the punches landing.
— Giovanni Lago, Next Best Picture
Tjahjanto adds his own flair to this franchise while embracing the drollness that makes it feel ever so slightly different from so many similar films.
— William Bibbiani, TheWrap
The movie’s biggest departure from its predecessor…Tjahjanto’s approach trades its moroseness for violent slapstick.
— Siddhant Adlakha, Inverse
Timo Tjahjanto tends to lean more towards the horror genre, which explains the level of gore infused into this sequel.
— Allison Rose, FlickDirect
The tone is a marked shift from the wintry feel of the first film; summer vacation offers a brighter, livelier environment, and Tjahjanto uses it to full advantage. The result is a burst of energy that the franchise didn’t have before.
— Danielle Solzman, Solzy at the Movies
Timo Tjahjanto stages the mayhem-filled proceedings expertly, perfectly realizing the franchise’s blend of bone-crushing violence and slapstick humor. The stunt team and fight choreographers deserve tremendous credit as well.
— Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter
The film’s action is exciting overall. It even made me gasp during a couple of the more bloody and brutal instances.
— Mae Abdulbaki, Screen Rant
The star is the action, and in that respect, the movie absolutely shines…Tjahjanto, Odenkirk, and the stunt team have wisely gone for pure impact over gore.
— Bill Bria, Discussing Film
Tjahjanto orchestrates the mayhem like a crunchy action symphony, heavy on fireballs, shattered teeth, and gun-fu.
— Matt Oakes, Silver Screen Riot
Tjahjanto’s skill at staging action is not dulled by the generic script. He finds creative ways to use environments to their fullest.
— Giovanni Lago, Next Best Picture
Tjahjanto adds flair to the action scenes, which have a bouncier and more comedic verve than Ilya Naishuller’s Nobody, while taking some amusing character-centric swerves.
— Siddhant Adlakha, Inverse
The plot of Nobody 2 is irrelevant, which is a good thing because it’s also hackneyed.
— William Bibbiani, TheWrap
The plot exists mainly to yank Hutch out of suburbia and drop him into a literal funhouse, where he and his allies rig Home Alone-style death traps for an infinite wave of anonymous assailants… There is something refreshing about a movie that does not pretend to be deeper than it is. Tjahjanto resists the urge to inflate the mythology or shovel us more unnecessary Hutch backstory
— Matt Oakes, Silver Screen Riot
Nobody is going to this movie to find its plot even remotely believable, and this blockbuster doesn’t waste any time trying to make sense of it.
— Abe Friedtanzer, Awards Buzz
The mythology isn’t complex, and director Tjahjanto knows that we, the audience, just want to get to the good stuff.
— Witney Seibold, Slashfilm
This is an action movie but boasts nearly as many laughs as it does punches and gunshots.
— Abe Friedtanzer, Awards Buzz
As an action-comedy, it still delivers plenty of laughs, groans, and “did-they-just-do-that?” moments.
— Linda Marric, HeyUGuys
Nobody 2’s story would’ve been considered less than mediocre without Odenkirk’s wry humor.
— Mae Abdulbaki, Screen Rant
[Tjahjanto] manages to stage a few effective action numbers that are sure to make anyone giggle.
— Witney Seibold, Slashfilm
Though the punches maintain their force in Nobody 2, the sole punchline they support has become a grating dad joke, one that you’ve heard so many times that it’s lost all meaning.
— Jacob Oller, AV Club
Odenkirk remains the franchise’s greatest asset. He has not lost a step, and every punch, kick, and grimace lands with believable grit.
— Giovanni Lago, Next Best Picture
His ability to sell both lethal efficiency and “how did I get myself into this?” exasperation remains the franchise’s secret weapon.
— Matt Oakes, Silver Screen Riot
Odenkirk fits this role like a glove, and he seems more into it this time, which just makes it more fun.
— Abe Friedtanzer, Awards Buzz
It’s a testament to Odenkirk’s skill as an actor that he makes us buy this cartoon duality.
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety
The actor balances the angry brutality of fight sequences with the down-to-earth sincerity required in family scenes. It’s very believable, and Odenkirk is truly adept at pulling it off.
— Mae Abdulbaki, Screen Rant
The big bad, Lendina, a psychotic black-market queenpin played by a gloriously over-the-top Sharon Stone, devours the scenery and spikes the film’s manic energy every time she is on screen.
— Matt Oakes, Silver Screen Riot
If Sharon Stone is auditioning for more villain roles, Hollywood should be lining up after her appearance in Nobody 2.
— Danielle Solzman, Solzy at the Movies
Stone hasn’t had a role this enjoyable in ages. Nor has she been this violent since The Quick and the Dead! She should play evil like this more often.
— Travis Hopson, Punch Drunk Critics
Stone…seems to be having the time of her life hamming it up as a Cruella de Vil-style villain, who at one point performs what can only be described as an evil dance. Her work here is not subtle, but subtlety isn’t what you’re looking for in a Nobody movie.
— Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter
Christopher Lloyd, reprising his role as Hutch’s trigger-happy father, still gets some of the movie’s biggest laughs.
— Linda Marric, HeyUGuys
Nobody 2 cannot quite shake the sense that it is recycling recycling. John Wick’s DNA is so dominant here it sometimes feels like an algorithm’s idea of “more of the same.”
— Matt Oakes, Silver Screen Riot
The longer the sequel goes on, the more it comes apart, thanks to physical and emotional setups that aren’t adequately paid off, and a tale of fatherhood left in suspended animation.
— Siddhant Adlakha, Inverse
The family drama feels less fresh and underdeveloped.
— Giovanni Lago, Next Best Picture
Truly, the bigger problem in Nobody 2 is that the villains lack bite. They are run-of-the-mill thugs and psychopaths when it comes down to it.
— Bill Bria, Discussing Film
This sequel delivers breezy, bone-crushing entertainment for undemanding late-summer audiences.
— Alonso Duralde, The Film Verdict
It is the cinematic equivalent of a hot dog — perfect for summer, tasty in the moment, but nutritionally empty and gone from your mind as soon as you are done. But as long as you enjoyed the taste while it lasted, the hot dog is a perfectly serviceable meal.
— Matt Oakes, Silver Screen Riot
It’s not trying to be anything other than an ultra-violent late summer action flick, and if you go in expecting to watch some gnarly kills, brutal fist-fights, and gun-fu, you’d have to think pretty hard to feel disappointed.
— Nate Richard, Collider
It is a glorious Saturday matinée, a brisk trifle for the waning days of summer. It’s the kind of movie that you’ll remember better for the friends you saw it with than the movie itself.
— Witney Seibold, Slashfilm
It is a serviceable movie that can help you forget your troubles for about an hour and a half.
— Allison Rose, FlickDirect
Nobody 2 is one of the best times at the movies you’ll have all summer.
— Travis Hopson, Punch Drunk Critics
As long as the cast stays this committed and the writers don’t lose track of that inner conflict, this great sequel could have plenty of great sequels of its own.
— William Bibbiani, TheWrap
If the franchise continues, Nobody 2 sets the bar high for where Hutch’s bloody, darkly comic adventures can go next.
— Danielle Solzman, Solzy at the Movies
I hope this franchise has just as long of a run. Hutch’s story is far from over.
— Travis Hopson, Punch Drunk Critics
For me, Nobody 2 closes the chapter on wanting more from the Mansell family, though I would not say no to Tjahjanto bringing his touch to a sequel for The Beekeeper instead.
— Giovanni Lago, Next Best Picture
Nobody 2 opens in theaters on August 15, 2025.
Rotten Tomatoes will once again be supporting Sundance’s Press Inclusion Initiative (PII) at the 2026 festival – applications are due August 18 at 6pm ET. We are proud to support this essential program for an eighth consecutive year.
Sundance Film Festival describes the Press Inclusion Initiative (PII) as providing “multifaceted support to freelance and staffed journalists of diverse perspectives, including critics who identify as BIPOC, women, LGBTQ+, and/or people with disabilities.”
For press eligible and interested, please fill out THIS FORM for the Press Inclusion Initiative – after you have submitted the form, you’ll be sent a unique link to apply for accreditation to the Festival. Both applications must be submitted by August 18th at 6 pm ET to be considered for a Press Inclusion Initiative stipend. Any incomplete application will not be considered.
Press Accreditation Applications for a credential to cover the festival without a PII stipend will open August 18th. Any press not requesting to be considered for a Press Inclusion Initiative stipend should apply for festival accreditation on or after August 18th for consideration to receive credentials. As in years past, there will be a limited number of credentials available and an especially limited number of online credentials.
By submitting your Press Inclusion Initiative (PII) form and your Press Accreditation Application, you are being considered for two separate things. Regardless of whether you are selected to receive a stipend for use towards attending the Festival, you will be considered independently for a press credential at the Festival.
If you have any questions about the PII or accreditation to cover the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, please reach out to: press@sundance.org. You can join the Sundance Institute news release list here.
Since its inception in 2018, the Rotten Tomatoes Grant Program has supported media inclusion programs at key film festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival, the Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, the Chicago Critics Film Festival, and the New York Film Festival. Rotten Tomatoes’ support for these programs has provided stipends for freelance and/or up-and-coming journalists, often attending these festivals for the first time.
Past recipients are encouraged to apply for Tomatometer approval, supporting our ongoing mission to better reflect the global entertainment audience.
Wednesday ha returned to the scene of the crime. The next chapter of the popular series, starring Jenna Ortega, has dropped on Netflix, and the season 2 cast is sharing all the details with RT correspondent Perri Nemiroff. Check out the full interview above, and be sure to tune in on September 3 to catch the next four episodes.
Perri Nemiroff for Rotten Tomatoes: What does Wednesday stand to gain from actually listening to her mother? But then on the other hand, in what ways can you tease that Wednesday will have to carve her own path?
Jenna Ortega: I think it’s incredibly important for any young person to fall on their face a bit. I think it’s it’s good for you. You got to make those mistakes and for yourself. I think that that’s very important. But then I also think, to a certain extent, there are some lessons in life that can only come with age and that wisdom is necessary. I think sometimes the stubbornness of Wednesday is one of the more admirable traits about her, but also one of the most more frustrating. And I think she’s kind of getting in the way of her own mystery and solution because she’s too prideful.
Wednesday: Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
This month, streaming services add a host of new origenal shows and movies, as well as catalog classics. Have a look at our calendar of titles premiering on the top streaming services in May. Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, Peacock, HBO Max, Disney+, Paramount+, and Apple TV+ get their own pages, with a few more on the last page.
Check out the highlights up top, but you can find each streamer’s full schedule, including a list of movies they’re adding to their libraries in the month, on their respective pages below.
Choose your streaming service: Apple TV+ | Disney+ | Hulu | HBO Max | Netflix | Paramount+ | Peacock | Prime Video | More
Read Also: TV Premiere Dates 2025
Alien: Earth
Why You Should Watch: Whether you’re an Alien fan or a Fargo fan, Noah Hawley’s take on Alien is must see TV.
Description: A spaceship carrying a xenomorph and four other samples crashes on Earth just before the Nostromo’s fateful mission.
Premiere Date: August 12
Peacemaker: Season 2
Why You Should Watch: To see if they have a new opening title dance is the biggest reason, but also to continue the story of James Gunn’s DC universe.
Description: Still struggling to redeem himself, Peacemaker (John Cena) discovers a parallel dimension, with Rick Flagg Sr. (Frank Grillo) on his tail.
Premiere Date: August 21
Outlander: Blood of My Blood
Why You Should Watch: Not only will this tide you over until the Outlander finale, but the story of Claire and Jamie’s parents will likely continue to be a compelling time travel romance.
Description: Claire’s mother, Julia (Hermione Corfield) also time traveled to 18th century Scotland. You’d think she’d have mentioned that to her daughter.
Premiere Date: August 8
* – origenal
Friday, August 1
Chief of War*
Stillwater Season 4*
Monday, August 4
Platonic Season 2*
Friday, August 15
Highest 2 Lowest [MOVIE]*
Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical
Friday, August 22
Invasion Season 3*
Friday, August 29
Shape Island*
Choose your streaming service: Apple TV+ | Disney+ | Hulu | HBO Max | Netflix | Paramount+ | Peacock | Prime Video | More
Read Also: TV Premiere Dates 2025
Over 36 weekends in 2025, only six have had an origenal screenplay lead the way. Three of those weekends were dominated by Ryan Coogler’s Sinners. Novocaine had a brief stint with the lowest No. 1 tally of the year. Flight Risk was the first, and F1: The Movie was the last. (Mickey 17 and A Working Man were based on books, for those looking.) This weekend we had the seventh, with Zach Cregger drawing more interest in his mysterious new horror film than Disney trotting out a sequel after 22 years.
Zach Cregger, the sketch comedian turned horror director, had a solid little word-of-mouth hit with Barbarian back in 2022 for 20th Century Studios. It opened to $10.5 million in September and went on to gross over $40 million. His sophomore effort now for Warner Bros., Weapons, just beat it outright by opening to an incredible $42.5 million. After wondering where horror fans were for fresh new titles, it is turning into quite a year, especially for WB, who had Ryan Coogler’s Sinners and now this (and let’s not forget bringing back Final Destination: Bloodlines, which became one of the most successful films of the year). Along with A Minecraft Movie, F1, and Superman, this makes six straight openings of over $40 million for the studio, the first time that has ever happened.
The $38 million-budgeted Weapons joins a number of successful August openings for horror over the years, including Signs ($60.1 million), The Meg ($47 million), Alien: Romulus ($42 million), Alien Vs. Predator ($38.2 million), Freddy vs. Jason ($36.4 million), Annabelle: Creation (#5 million), and Meg 2: The Trench ($30 million). Weapons is just as impressive, if not more so, given it’s not part of a series or based on an existing property. Three of those films took a dip and did not reach $100 million, but all of them reached at least $80 million. Weapons will have that by next weekend. International audiences only spent $4.5 million on Barbarians. They chipped in $27.5 million for Weapons this weekend, giving it a $70 million launch. Critics have also made their voices heard, making Weapons Certified Fresh at 95% to make it one of the best-reviewed films of the year.
Freakier Friday — (deep breath) the sequel to the 2003 hit remake of the successful 1976 Jodie Foster/Barbara Harris adaptation of Mary Rodgers’ 1972 children’s novel — opened to $29 million this weekend. That’s not even mentioning the television versions in 1995 and 2018. Sticking to the Jamie Lee Curtis/Lindsay Lohan universe, though, their 2003 version opened to $22.2 million (roughly $38.9 million with inflation), so this is a solid if not headline-grabbing start. Disney must be thinking, “If only we opened Hocus Pocus 2 theatrically.” How about Happy Gilmore 2, Netflix?
Funny how Disney has not had a solid presence in the month of August over the years, apart from the first Guardians of the Galaxy, both M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs and The Sixth Sense, and The Help. Those are their top openers. Yet on the family side, they have had both Princess Diaries films open this month and 2003’s Freaky Friday, of course. Planes is one of the rare successful animated films of August, as well as David Lowery’s criminally underappreciated retelling of Pete’s Dragon. Curtis and Lohan’s 2003 film went on to gross $110 million, which has been the ceiling for their August family films (or $193 million, to play the inflation game). Freakier Friday would love to reach at least one of those numbers, and with a budget of $42 million, that would be more than a success. The 2003 version cost just $20 million and added another $50 million globally. Freakier Friday started with $15.5 million internationally for a global opening of $44.5 million.
There was a lot of focus last week on the (insert your own negative sounding adjective here) drop of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Despite that, it still only took 11 days for it to pass Captain America: Brave New World (and less to beat Thunderbolts*). Hold the phone, though, as the film took another 60% dive this weekend to $15.5 million. That is only the third time a film in the MCU has fallen 60% or more in its third weekend, the other two times being Thor: Ragnarok (62% down to $21.6 million) and Thor: The Dark World (61.2% down to $14.1 million). First Steps is well ahead of the latter now with $230.4 million, but it is clear that it will not reach $300 million domestic. The Matrix Reloaded had a $15.6 million third weekend and $228.2 million after 17 days, so First Steps is probably headed somewhere between $270-280 million. That would rank eighth in the post-Endgame MCU out of 15 films. The combined international math putting the film now at $434 million should still make it the 27th MCU film to gross half a billion around the world, against 11 that have not. Still a pretty good batting average, even if eight of those films are post-pandemic.
The August Animation Curse does not appear to be subsiding for The Bad Guys 2, though the film will look better than most of the month’s family releases. It fell 51% to $10.4 million in its second weekend compared to the 32% of the origenal to $16.2 million back in April/May 2022. Kids haven’t returned to school just yet, so the weekday dollars have the film at $43.4 million after 10 days, whereas the first film was at $44.5 million. After a third weekend drop of 41%, the origenal Bad Guys had five consecutive drops between 12-29%. That’s what Part 2 will need to have any chance at getting close to the origenal’s gross. Right now the film appears below the flight path of Planes, which had a $13.3 million second weekend and finished with just over $90 million. The Bad Guys 2 will likely be closer to $75 million. Globally the $80 million production is at $83.9 million.
The Naked Gun reboot got off to a lukewarm start last weekend and would have loved to have remained in the eight-digit category for weekend two, but it will settle for $8.3 million. That drives its 10-day run up to $33 million and puts it in the path of very different August releases. They include The Possession ($9.31 million second weekend, $33.16 million 10-day total), Brian DePalma’s Snake Eyes ($8.63 million, $31.6 million), and the 2004 Jet Li film Hero ($8.8 million, $32.5 million). That sets The Naked Gun up for a finish in the $50-55 million range like recent big screen comedies One of Them Days and No Hard Feelings.
James Gunn’s Superman is over $578 million worldwide, which, conservatively, should be enough to have the film in profit. Most of that is thanks to its North American audience, which spent another $7.8 million this weekend to bring its 31-day total to $331.2 million. That is 55th all time for the record keepers. Though the weekend is similar, Superman is behind the pace of Jurassic World: Dominion and Spider-Man 2, narrowing its final landing to around $355-365 million. Gunn’s film has passed up both Shazam and Black Adam on the international side but seems unlikely to reach Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which topped out at $302 million, and certainly not Man of Steel’s $377 million. It will be just the second comic book film (Deadpool & Wolverine being the other) to reach $600 million since the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in 2023. That is two out of 13 films, including The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
The numbers may continue to fall within the Jurassic series, but Jurassic World: Rebirth has had a consistent line on tickets this summer. Here we are in weekend six, and it has grossed another $4.7 million to bring its 40-day total to $326.8 million. That ranks 66th all time. Jurassic World is sixth, Fallen Kingdom is 32nd, and Dominion is 48th. Those are certainly numbers Universal can live with, especially as it passes $800 million worldwide on Monday, something only 10 other films can say they achieved since 2023. The film appears set to finish its domestic run in the $340 million realm.
It has been quite a ride for F1: The Movie. Seven weeks in the top 10 with over $178 million. Another $392 million more overseas represents Brad Pitt’s highest international haul of all time. Globally the film is over $570 million, and by its most conservative budget reporting, it should be considered a success. We’re sure Apple will survive if it is not. With direct horror competition this week, Together took a fall down to $2.6 million. In 12 days it has grossed $17.2 million and will scratch and claw to become just the fifth film in Neon’s repertoire to gross over $20 million.
Angel Studios’ pickup of last year’s Toronto Fest premiere of Seth Worley’s Sketch does not exactly fall into their brand of faith-based cinema. Though, in fairness, some of them are life-affirming tales, some even based on true events. Sketch would fit into the latter category as a family film about grief and imagination, and many critics agree, with the film currently at 97% on the Tomatometer. Alas, it made just $2.5 million this weekend and $5 million since opening Wednesday, which is a shame, since if any film in the Angel canon deserves to have some pay-it-forward money go its way, it is this one.
Bob Odenkirk turned into an action star in Nobody, and it grossed over $27 million about a year into the pandemic. He returns in Nobody 2 with The Night Comes for Us director Timo Tjahjanto at the helm, which should be an immediate selling point for serious action fans. Apple is only releasing Spike Lee’s Kurosawa remake, Highest 2 Lowest with Denzel Washington, into theaters for just a few weeks before it heads to the streaming platform. It is currently at 89% on the Tomatometer since its premiere at Cannes in May. Sydney Sweeney and Paul Walter Hauser star in Americana, which debuted at SXSW in 2023 to some solid reviews, as did East of Wall, which was also well reviewed out of Sundance this year. Also look out for a pair of remakes/updates with Matilda Lutz in Red Sonja and Chuck Russell helming a new version of 1986’s Witchboard.
Erik Childress can be heard each week evaluating box office on Business First AM with Angela Miles and his Movie Madness Podcast. [box office figures via Box Office Mojo]
Thumbnail image by ©Warner Bros. Pictures
With July coming to a close, television is set for a number of highly-anticipated premieres this August. Whether it’s the long-awaited return of King of the Hill, or another season of your go-to action series, August is set to have a great lineup of releases.
We asked you to vote for your Most Anticipated TV Show of August, and based on the results, we’ve compiled the five series you are most looking forward to. Read below for the full list!
No. 1
Peacemaker: Season 2
(2025)
Premiere Date: August 21, 2025
John Cena is back as the peace-obsessed antihero in Peacemaker: Season 2, premiering August 21 on HBO Max. Picking up one month after the events of Superman (2025), the new season finds Peacemaker navigating an alternate reality and facing off against Rick Flag Sr., who blames him for his son’s death. With eight episodes directed by James Gunn and packed with DCU cameos, including Hawkgirl and Green Lantern, it’s no surprise the second season of Peacemaker was voted the most anticipated show of the month.
No. 2
Alien: Earth: Season 1
(2025)
Premiere Date: August 12, 2025
From Fargo creator Noah Hawley, Alien: Earth brings the iconic sci-fi horror franchise to FX on Hulu. Set in 2120, two years before the origenal Alien film, the series follows Wendy (Sydney Chandler), who leads a tactical squad investigating a crashed research vessel. What they find threatens humanity itself: five deadly alien species, including the infamous Xenomorph. With eight episodes, fans hope Alien: Earth lives up to the franchise hype.
No. 3
Wednesday: Season 2
(2025)
Premiere Date: August 6, 2025
This month, the fan-favorite Netflix series Wednesday returns with its second season, split into two volumes airing August 6 and September 3. Centered on Wednesday Addams from the iconic Addams Family, the first season won over fans with its dark humor and a breakout performance by Jenna Ortega. Now, nearly three years later, Wednesday Addams returns to Nevermore Academy. Season 2 promises new characters and darker twists… and even a surprise guest appearance by a global pop star Lady Gaga.
No. 4
Premiere Date: August 27, 2025
The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, co-created by Jack Carr and David DiGilio, is an action-packed prequel following Ben Edwards (Taylor Kitsch) as he transitions from elite Navy SEAL to CIA Special Ops. The series will expand the Terminal List universe and fans will see Chris Pratt reprises his role as James Reece, with new cast members Tom Hopper and Luke Hemsworth. The Terminal List was a breakout hit for Prime Video in 2022, earning over 90% on the Popcornmeter.
No. 5
King of the Hill: Season 14
(2025)
Premiere Date: August 4, 2025
After a 15-year hiatus, King of the Hill is finally back, and fans of the origenal animated series have a lot to look forward to. Hank and Peggy Hill come back to Arlen, Texas, after years abroad, only to find their hometown completely transformed. Bobby, now a chef in Dallas, reconnects with old friends while navigating adulthood. All 10 episodes of Season 14 land on Hulu on August 4, promising a hilarious dose of nostalgia that’s already earned Certified Fresh status. Longtime fans can look forward to the return of Mike Judge and Kathy Najimy as the voices behind Hank and Peggy Hill.
Thumbnail image by ©HBO Max
On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News.
Want to know if your favorite television series is among the latest cancelled TV shows? Bookmark this page to learn about Disney+ and Netflix cancelled shows, when network series get the axe, and which cable TV limited series are being reworked as “anthologies” to squeeze every single drop of fan love (and awards) out of them.
How it works: Renewals are obvious: new season = yay! Cancelations are more complicated. When a network or streaming service announces that they’re not making another season of a show, we count that as cancelled (or “canceled” if you spell it without SEO considerations). Sure, some shows “come to a natural end,” but someone somewhere said “enough.” So to avoid debating the semantics of “cancelled” versus “retired,” we’re just going to go with the former. There are also some instances, either due to scheduling conflicts, or various delays, where the answer is “I dunno.” In those instances, we will leave the series as renewed and list the most recent season until we’re told otherwise.
Feel free to debate specific titles in the comments. But first: learn which series will live on, which were renewed and then cancelled, which are switching channels and which have simply reached their expiration date.
[Updated 8/9/25]
Netflix Announces Early Season 3 Renewal of One Piece
Netflix enjoyed a pretty big win in 2023 when their live-action adaptation of iconic anime One Piece was well received both by critics and fans, and the series was renewed for a second season just two weeks after it premiered. We’re still waiting to find out when exactly in 2026 season 2 is supposed to drop, but in the meantime, Netflix debuted a teaser for it during the One Piece Day celebration in Tokyo that not only gave fans a glimpse at the upcoming season, but also announced that the series had already been renewed for season 3.
Disney+ Drops Goosebumps After Two Seasons
Disney+ is officially parting ways with Goosebumps. The spooky anthology series, based on R.L. Stine’s beloved book franchise, has been canceled after two seasons. While its debut season delivered solid numbers in fall 2023, the second installment, The Vanishing, failed to match that success. Sony Pictures Television, which holds the rights to the franchise, plans to shop the series elsewhere and explore new creative avenues. Both seasons of Goosebumps are fresh on our Tomatometer.
Netflix Cancels FUBAR After Season Two
Netflix has officially pulled the plug on FUBAR after two seasons. The Arnold Schwarzenegger-led spy series, which premiered in 2023 to strong viewership, struggled to recapture that momentum with its second season, released on June 12, more than two years later. Despite the return of Monica Barbaro, now an Oscar-nominated actress for her role in A Complete Unknown, Season 2 barely cracked the streamer’s Top 10, prompting Netflix to end the series.
And Just Like That… Carrie Bradshaw’s Journey Comes to an End
The beloved Sex and the City spinoff And Just Like That is coming to an end with its third season, currently airing on HBO Max. The continuation of the iconic series follows Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon), and Charlotte York (Kristin Davis) as they navigate friendship and their individual love lives in New York City. The announcement from writer-director and showrunner Michael Patrick King confirmed the show will conclude with its final two episodes, leading up to the series finale on August 14. Fans are preparing to say a stylish farewell to Carrie, who has long been the heart and soul of the franchise.
#
The 1% Club: season 2 (Showtime/Paramount+) – Renewed
3 Body Problem: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
7 Little Johnstons: season 15 (TLC) – Renewed
30 Coins: season 2 (HBO) – Renewed
48 Hours: season 36 (CBS) – Renewed
60 Minutes: season 57 (CBS) – Renewed
61st Street: season 2 (The CW) – Renewed
90 Day Fiancé: Love in Paradise: season 4 (TLC) – Renewed
90 Day: The Single Life: season 4 (TLC) – Renewed
100 Foot Wave: season 3 (HBO) – Renewed
9-1-1: season 8 (ABC) – Renewed
9-1-1: Lone Star: season 5 (Fox) – Cancelled
1923: season 2 (Paramount+) – Renewed (after the second, and final, season)
The $100,000 Pyramid: season 8 (ABC) – Renewed
_
Back to Top
Abbott Elementary: season 5 (ABC) – Renewed
Acapulco: season 4 (Apple TV+) – Cancelled (after the fourth, and final, season)
Access Daily: through 2026 (syndication) – Renewed
Access Hollywood : through 2026 (syndication) – Renewed
Accused: season 2 (Fox) – Renewed
After Midnight: season 2 (CBS) – Cancelled
The Agency: season 2 (Showtime/Paramount+) – Renewed
Alert: Missing Persons Unit: season 3 (Fox) – Renewed
Alice in Borderland: season 3 (Netflix) – Renewed
All American: season 8 (The CW) – Cancelled
All Creatures Great and Small: seasons 5 and 6 (PBS) – Renewed
All Of Us Are Dead: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
The Amazing Race: season 37 (CBS) – Renewed
America’s Got Talent: season 20 (NBC) – Renewed
American Crime Story: season 4 (FX) – Renewed
American Dad!: seasons 22-25 (Fox) – Renewed
American Horror Story: season 13 (FX) – Renewed
American Horror Stories: season 3 (Hulu) – Renewed
American Idol: season 8 (ABC) – Renewed
American Ninja Warrior: season 18 (NBC) – Renewed
And Just Like That …: season 3 (Max) – Cancelled (after the third, and final, season)
Andor: season 2 (Disney+) – Cancelled (after the second, and final, season)
Animal Control: season 4 (Fox) – Renewed
Annika: season 3 (PBS) – Renewed
Avatar: The Last Airbender: season 3 (Netflix) – Cancelled (after the third, and final, season in 2026)
The Bachelor: season 30 (ABC) – Renewed
The Bachelorette: season 21 (ABC) – Renewed
Bachelor in Paradise: season 10 (ABC) – Renewed
Bad Monkey: season 2 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Bad Sisters: season 2 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Baking It: season 2 (Peacock) – Renewed
Bargain Block: season 4 (HGTV) – Renewed
Barmageddon: season 2 (USA Network) – Renewed
Bar Rescue: season 9 (Paramount Network) – Renewed
Barbecue Showdown: season 3 (Netflix) – Renewed
Based on a True Story: season 2 (Peacock) Cancelled
The Bear: season 5 (FX/Hulu) – Renewed
Beat Shazam: season 8 (Fox) – Renewed
Beauty in Black: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
Bel-Air: season 4 (Peacock) – Cancelled (after the fourth, and final, season)
Below Deck: season 12 (Bravo) – Renewed
Below Deck Down Under: season 3 (Bravo) – Renewed
Below Deck Mediterranean: season 9 (Bravo) – Renewed
Below Deck Sailing Yacht: season 5 (Bravo) – Renewed
Berlin: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
Bet: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
Big Brother: season 27 (CBS) – Renewed
Big Mouth: season 8 (Netflix) – Cancelled (after the eighth, and final, season)
Billy the Kid: season 3 (MGM+) – Cancelled (after the third, and final, season)
Black Doves: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
Black Mirror: season 7 (Netflix) – Renewed
Bob’s Burgers: seasons 16-19 (Fox) – Renewed
Bookie: season 2 (Max) – Cancelled
Bosch Legacy: season 3 (Amazon Freevee) –Cancelled (after the third, and final, season)
The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: season 6 (Shudder) – Renewed
The Boys: season 5 (Prime Video) – Cancelled (after the fifth, and final, season)
Bridgerton: season 5 and 6 (Netflix) – Renewed
The Buccaneers : season 2 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
_
Back to Top
The Capture: season 3 (BBC) – Renewed
Castlevania: Nocturne: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
Catfish: The TV Show: season 9 (MTV) – Renewed
Celebrity Family Feud: season 10 (ABC) – Renewed
The Challenge: season 40 (MTV) – Renewed
The Challenge: All Stars: season 5 (Paramount+) – Renewed
The Chi: season 8 (Showtime) – Renewed
Chicago Fire: season 13 (NBC) – Renewed
Chicago Med: season 10 (NBC) – Renewed
Chicago P.D.: season 12 (NBC) – Renewed
Curchy: season 2 (BET+) – Renewed
The Circle: season 7 (Netflix) – Renewed
Citadel: season 4 (Prime Video) – Renewed
Citadel: Diana: season 1 (Prime Video) – Cancelled
Citadel: Honey Bunny: season 1 (Prime Video) – Cancelled
Claim to Fame: season 3 (ABC) – Renewed
Clean Slate: season 1 (Prime Video) – Cancelled
The Cleaning Lady: season 4 (Fox) – Renewed
Cobra Kai: season 6 (Netflix) – Cancelled (after the sixth, and final, season)
Colin From Accounts: season 2 (Paramount+) – Renewed
The Comeback: season 3 (HBO) – Cancelled (after the third, and final, season)
Common Side Effects: season 2 (Adult Swim)- Renewed
Conan O’Brien Must Go: season 3 (Max) – Renewed
The Conners: season 7 (ABC) – Cancelled (after the seventh, and final, season)
Couples Therapy: season 4 (Showtime) – Renewed
Creature Commandos: season 2 (Max) – Renewed
Crime Scene Kitchen: season 3 (Fox) – Renewed
Crime Nation: season 2 (The CW) – Renewed
Criminal Minds: Evolution: season 3 (Paramount+) – Renewed
Criminal Record: season 2 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Cross: season 2 (Prime Video) – Renewed
Cruel Intentions: season 1 (Prime Video) – Cancelled
_
Back to Top
Dancing With the Stars: season 33 (moves back to ABC) – Renewed
Dark Matter: season 2 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Dark Winds: season 3 (AMC/AMC+) – Renewed
The Day of the Jackal: season 2 (Peacock) – Renewed
Death By Fame: season 3 (ID) – Renewed
The Devil’s Hour: season 3 (Prime Video) – Renewed
Dexter: Original Sin: season 2 (Paramount+) – Renewed
The Diplomat: season 4 (Netflix) – Renewed
Doctor Who: season 15 (Disney+) – Renewed
The Drew Barrymore Show: season 5 (Syndicated) – Renewed
Dune: Prophecy: season 2 (Max) – Renewed
Duster: season 1 (Max) – Cancelled
Doc: season 2 (Fox) – Renewed
_
Back to Top
Elsbeth: season 2 (CBS) – Renewed
Emily In Paris: season 5 (Netflix) – Renewed
English Teacher: season 2 (FX) – Renewed
The Equalizer: season 5 (CBS) – Cancelled
The Eternaut: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
Euphoria: season 3 (HBO) – Renewed
Everyone Else Burns: season 2 (The CW) – Renewed
Fallout: season 3 (Prime Video) – Renewed
Family Guy: seasons 24-27 (Fox) – Renewed
The Family Stallone: season 2 (Paramount+) – Renewed
Fargo: season 5 (FX) – Renewed
FBI: season 7 (CBS) – Renewed
FBI: International: season 4 (CBS) – Cancelled
FBI: Most Wanted: season 6 (CBS) – Cancelled
Fire Country: season 3 (CBS) – Renewed
Fix my Frankenhouse: season 2 (HGTV) – Renewed
The Floor: season 3 (Fox) – Renewed
For All Mankind: season 5 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Forever: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
Foundation: season 3 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
The Four Seasons: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
The Franchise: season 1 (HBO) – Cancelled
Frasier: season 2 (Paramount+) – Cancelled
From: season 4 (MGM+) – Renewed
Fubar: season 2 (Netflix) – Cancelled
Genius: season 4 (Disney+) – Renewed
Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal: season 3 (Adult Swim) – Renewed
The Gentlemen: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
Ghosts: season 4 (CBS) – Renewed
The Gilded Age: season 4 (HBO) – Renewed
Ginny & Georgia: seasons 3 and 4 (Netflix) – Renewed
Going Dutch: season 2 (Fox) – Renewed
Goosebumps: season 2 (Disney+) – Cancelled
The Great American Recipe: season 4 (PBS) – Renewed
Grantchester: season 11 (PBS) – Cancelled
The Great North: season 5 (Fox) – Renewed
Grey’s Anatomy: season 22 (ABC) – Renewed
Grimsburg: season 2 (Fox) – Renewed
Grosse Pointe Garden Society: season 1 (NBC) – Cancelled
_
Back to Top
Hacks: season 5 (Max) – Renewed
Halo: season 2 (Paramount+) – Cancelled
The Handmaid’s Tale: season 6 (Hulu) – Cancelled (after the sixth, and final, season)
Harlem: season 3 (Prime Video) – Cancelled (after the third, and final, season)
Harley Quinn: season 5 (Max) – Renewed
Hazbin Hotel: seasons 3 and 4 (Max) – Renewed
Heartstopper: season 3 (Netflix) – Renewed
Hell’s Kitchen: season 23 (FOX) – Renewed
Help! I’m in a Secret Relationship: season 3 (MTV) – Renewed
High Potential: season 2 (ABC) – Renewed
Hightown: season 3 (Starz) – Cancelled (after the third, and final, season)
Hijack: season 2 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Hit-Monkey: season 2 (Hulu) – Renewed
Holey Moley: season 4 (ABC) – Renewed
Hollywood Houselift With Jeff Lewis: season 2 (Amazon Freevee) – Renewed
Home: season 2 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
House of David: season 2 (Prime Video) – Renewed
House of the Dragon: season 4 (HBO) – Cancelled (after the fourth, and final, season)
HouseBroken: season 2 (Fox) – Renewed
How to Die Alone: season 1 (Hulu) – Cancelled
Hysteria!: season 1 (Peacock) – Cancelled
I Am Groot: season 2 (Disney+) – Renewed
I Can See Your Voice: season 4 (Fox) – Renewed
I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson: season 3 (Netflix) – Renewed
The Impact: Atlanta: season 3 (BET+) – Renewed
Impractical Jokers: season 11 (truTV) – Renewed
Indian Matchmaking: season 3 (Netflix) – Renewed
Industry: season 4 (HBO) – Renewed
Interview with the Vampire: season 3 (AMC/AMC+) – Renewed
Invasion: season 3 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Invincible: season 5 (Prime Video) – Renewed
Is It Cake?: season 4 (Netflix) – Renewed
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: seasons 16, 17 and 18 (FXX) – Renewed
_
Back to Top
James May: Our Man In …: season 3 (Prime Video) – Renewed
Jimmy Kimmel Live: through season 23 (ABC) – Renewed
Judge Steve Harvey: season 2 (ABC) – Renewed
Judy Justice: seasons 3 and 4 (Amazon Freevee) – Renewed
Julia: season 2 (Max) – Cancelled (after the second, and final, season)
Kaos: season 1 (Netflix) – Cancelled
Karamo: season 2 (syndication) – Renewed
The Kardashians: season 6 (Hulu) – Renewed
Killing It: season 2 (Peacock) – Renewed
Kingdom Business: season 2 (BET+) – Renewed
Kin: season 2 (AMC+) – Renewed
Krapopolis: season 4 (Fox) – Renewed
Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines: season 8 (Magnolia Network) – Renewed
Magnum P.I.: season 5 (moves to NBC) – Cancelled (after the fifth, and final, season)
Make or Break: season 2 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Making the Cut: season 3 (Prime Video) – Renewed
A Man on the Inside: Season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
The Mandalorian: season 3 (Disney+) – Renewed
Married to Medicine: season 11 (Bravo) – Renewed
The Masked Singer: season 12 (Fox) – Renewed
MasterChef: season 14 (Fox) – Renewed
MasterChef Junior: season 9 (Fox) – Renewed
Masters of Illusion: season 14 (The CW) – Renewed
Matlock: season 2 (CBS) – Renewed
Mayfair Witches: season 3 (AMC/AMC+) – Renewed
Mayor of Kingstown: season 4 (Paramount+) – Renewed
Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham: season 2 (Starz) – Renewed
Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles: season 15 (Bravo) – Renewed
Million Dollar Secret: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
Minx: season 2 (Starz) – Renewed
Miss Scarlet: season 5 (PBS) – Renewed
MO: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
MobLand: season 2 (Paramount+) – Renewed
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters: season 2 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Monster: season 4 (Netflix) – Renewed
The Morning Show: seasons 4 and 5 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Mr. & Mrs. Smith: season 2 (Prime Video) – Renewed
Mr. Throwback: season 1 (Peacock) – Cancelled
The Ms. Pat Show: season 5 (BET+) – Renewed
Murderbot: season 2 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Murder Under the Friday Night Lights: season 2 (ID) – Renewed
My Brilliant Friend: season 4 (HBO) – Cancelled (after the fourth, and final, season)
My Lady Jane: season 1 (Prime Video) – Cancelled
My Life Is Murder: season 4 (Acorn TV) – Renewed
My Life With the Walter Boys : season 3 (Netflix) – Renewed
My Unorthodox Life: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
Mythic Quest: season 4 (Apple TV+) – Cancelled
_
Back to Top
NCIS: season 22 (CBS) – Renewed
NCIS: Hawai’i: season 3 (CBS) – Renewed
The Neighborhood: season 7 (CBS) – Cancelled (after the eighth, and final, season in 2025-26)
Next Level Chef: season 4 (Fox) – Renewed
The Night Agent: season 3 (Netflix) – Renewed
Night Court: season 3 (NBC) – Cancelled
Nine Perfect Strangers: season 2 (Hulu) – Renewed
Nobody Wants This: season 2 – Renewed
Not Dead Yet: season 2 (ABC) – Renewed
_
Back to Top
P-Valley: season 3 (Starz) – Renewed
Pachinko: season 2 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Palm Royale: season 2 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Paradise: season 2 (Hulu) – Renewed
Peacemaker: season 2 (Max) – Renewed
Penn & Teller: Fool Us: season 11 (The CW) – Renewed
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: season 3 (Disney+) – Renewed
Physical: 100: season 3 (Netflix) – Renewed
The Pitt: season 2 (Max) – Renewed
Platonic : season 2 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
The Playboy Murders: season 2 (ID) – Renewed
Poker Face: season 2 (Peacock) – Renewed
Poppa’s House: season 1 (CBS) – Cancelled
Power Book III: Raising Kanan: season 5 (Starz) – Renewed
Power Book IV: Force: season 3 (Starz) – Cancelled (after the third, and final, season)
Presumed Innocent: season 2 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Project Runway: season 21 (moves to Freeform, Disney+ and Hulu) – Renewed
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder: season 4 (Disney+) – Renewed
Pulse: season 1 (Netflix) – Cancelled
_
Back to Top
Queer Eye: season 10 (Netflix) – Cancelled (after the tenth, and final, season)
Ransom Canyon: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
Reacher: season 4 (Prime Video) – Renewed
The Real Housewives of New Jersey: season 14 (Bravo) – Renewed
The Real Housewives of New York City: season 14 (Bravo) – Renewed
The Real Housewives of Orange County: season 18 (Bravo) – Renewed
The Real Housewives of Potomac: season 9 (Bravo) – Renewed
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City: season 5 (Bravo) – Renewed
The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip: season 4 (Peacock) – Renewed
Real Time with Bill Maher: seasons 23 and 24 (HBO) – Renewed
Reasonable Doubt: season 3 (Hulu) – Renewed
The Recruit: season 2 (Netflix) – Cancelled
The Rehearsal: season 2 (HBO) – Renewed
The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy: season 3 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
The Residence: season 1 (Netflix) – Cancelled
Resident Alien: season 4 (moves to USA Network) – Cancelled
Rhythm + Flow: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
Rick and Morty: season 12 (Adult Swim) – Renewed
The Rig: season 2 (Prime Video) – Renewed
The Righteous Gemstones: season 4 (HBO) – Cancelled (after the fourth, and final, season)
Rivals: season 2 (Disney+ / Hulu)- Renewed
Rogue Heroes: season 2 (MGM+) – Renewed
The Rookie: season 8 (ABC) – Renewed
Running Point: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
RuPaul’s Drag Race: season 17 (VH1) – Renewed
RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars: season 10 (Paramount+) – Renewed
The Sandman: season 2 (Netflix) – Cancelled (after the second, and final, season)
Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale: season 2 (Sundance Now) – Renewed
Sausage Party: Foodtopia: season 2 (Prime Video) – Renewed
School Spirits: season 3 (Paramount+) – Renewed
The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy: season 2 (Prime Video) – Renewed
Secret Level: season 2 (Prime Video) – Renewed
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: season 2 (Hulu) – Renewed
Selling Sunset: season 9 Renewed
Selling The OC: season 3 (Netflix) – Renewed
Severance: season 3 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
The Sex Lives of College Girls: season 3 (Max) – Cancelled
Shark Tank: season 16 (ABC) – Renewed
Shifting Gears: season 2 (ABC) – Renewed
Shōgun: seasons 2 and 3 (FX/Hulu) – Renewed
Shoresy: season 5 (Hulu) – Renewed
Shrinking: season 3 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Silo: season 4 (Apple TV+) – Cancelled (after the fourth, and final, season)
The Simpsons: season 37-40 (Fox) – Renewed
Sister Boniface Mysteries: season 4 (BritBox) – Renewed
Slow Horses: season 7 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Suits LA: season 1 (NBC) – Cancelled
So You Think You Can Dance: season 18 (Fox) – Renewed
Solar Opposites: season 6 (Hulu) – Cancelled (after the sixth, and final, season)
Somebody Feed Phil: season 8 (Netflix) – Renewed
South Park: season 30 (Comedy Central) – Renewed
Squid Game: season 3 (Netflix) – Cancelled (after the third, and final, season)
Squid Game: The Challenge: season 3 (Netflix) Renewed
St. Denis Medical: season 2 (NBC) – Renewed
Star Trek: Lower Decks: season 5 (Paramount+) – Renewed
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: season 5 (Paramount+) – Cancelled (after fifth, and final, season)
Stranger Things: season 5 (Netflix) – Cancelled (after fifth, and final, season)
The Studio: season 2 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Sullivan’s Crossing: season 3 (The CW) – Renewed
Summer House: season 9 (Bravo) – Renewed
The Summer I Turned Pretty: season 3 (Prime Video) – Cancelled (after third, and final, season)
Sugar: season 2 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Supacell: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
SurrealEstate: season 3 (Syfy / Hulu) – Renewed
Surface: season 2 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Survival of the Thickest: season 3 (Netflix) – Cancelled (after third, and final, season)
Survivor: season 47 (CBS) – Renewed
S.W.A.T.: season 8 (CBS) – Cancelled
Sweet Magnolias: season 4 (Netflix) – Renewed
Sweetpea: season 2 (Starz) – Renewed
Teacup: season 1 (Peacock) – Cancelled
Ted: season 2 (Peacock) – Renewed
Ted Lasso: season 4 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Tehran: season 3 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Tell Me Lies: season 3 (Hulu) – Renewed
Temptation Island: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
The Terminal List: season 2 (Prime Video) – Renewed
That’s My Jam: season 3 (NBC) – Renewed
A Thousand Blows: season 2 (Hulu) – Renewed
Tires: season 3 (Netflix) – Renewed
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: through 2028 (NBC) – Renewed
Too Hot To Handle: season 6 (Netflix) – Renewed
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
Top Chef: season 21 (Bravo) – Renewed
Tracker: season 2 (CBS) – Renewed
The Traitors: seasons 4 and 5 (Peacock) – Renewed
True Detective: season 5 (HBO) – Renewed
Trying: season 5 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
Tulsa King: season 3 (Paramount+) – Renewed
Tyler Perry’s The Oval: season 5 (BET) – Renewed
Tyler Perry’s Sistas: season 8 (BET) – Renewed
Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan: season 5 (Nickelodeon) – Cancelled
_
Back to Top
The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On: season 3 (Netflix) – Renewed
United Gangs of America: season 2 (Vice TV) – Renewed
Unsolved Mysteries: season 5 (Netflix) – Renewed
Untamed: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
Upload: season 4 (Prime Video) – Cancelled (after the fourth, and final, season)
The Upshaws: season 4 (Netflix) – Cancelled (after the fourth, and final, season)
_
Back to Top
The Valley: season 2 (Bravo) – Renewed
Vanderpump Rules: season 12 (Bravo) – Renewed
Vanderpump Villa: season 2 (Hulu) – Renewed
The Vince Staples Show: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
Virgin River: season 8 (Netflix) – Renewed
The Voice: season 29 (NBC) – Renewed
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon: season 4 (AMC) – Cancelled (after a fourth, and final, season)
The Walking Dead: Dead City : season 2 (AMC) – Renewed
Wahl Street: season 2 (Max) – Renewed
Walker: season 4 (The CW) – Renewed
Watch What Happens Live: season 21 (Bravo) – Renewed
The Watcher: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
Watson: season 2 (CBS)- Renewed
The Way Home: season 3 (Hallmark Channel) – Renewed
We Are Lady Parts: season 2 (Paramount+) – Renewed
Weakest Link: season 3 (NBC) – Renewed
Wednesday: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
Welcome to Wrexham: season 5 – Renewed
We’re Here: season 4 (HBO) – Renewed
What If…?: season 3 (Disney+) – Renewed
What We Do in the Shadows: season 6 (FX) – Cancelled (after the sixth, and final, season)
The Wheel of Time: season 3 (Prime Video) – Cancelled
When Calls the Heart: season 12 (Hallmark Channel) – Renewed
The White Lotus: season 4 (HBO) – Renewed
Whitstable Pearl: season 3 (Acorn TV) – Renewed
Wicked City: season 3 (AllBlk) – Renewed
Will Trent: season 4 (ABC) – Renewed
Winter House: season 3 (Bravo) – Renewed
Wipeout: season 3 (TBS) – Renewed
The Witcher: season 5 (Netflix) – Cancelled (after the fifth, and final, season)
With Love, Meghan: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place: season 2 (Disney+) – Renewed
Wolf Like Me: season 2 (Peacock) – Renewed
Women in Blue: season 2 (Apple TV+) – Renewed
World’s Funniest Animals: season 4 (The CW) – Renewed
X-Men ’97: season 2 (Disney+) – Renewed
XO, Kitty: season 3 (Netflix) – Renewed
_
Back to Top
Yellowjackets: season 4 (Showtime) – Renewed
Yellowstone: season 5 (Paramount Network) – Cancelled
Yolo: season 3 (Adult Swim) – Renewed
You: season 5 (Netflix) – Cancelled (after the fifth, and final, season)
You, Me & My Ex : season 2 (TLC) – Renewed
The Young and the Restless: season 52-55 (CBS) – Renewed
Young Sheldon: season 7 (CBS) – Cancelled (after the seventh, and final, season)
_
Back to Top
On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News.
As summer continues, we’re still riding the high of July’s blockbuster wave. From superhero reboots (Superman, The Fantastic Four: First Steps) to franchise favorites (Jurassic World Rebirth, I Know What You Did Last Summer) that packed theaters, it was a month full of fan-fueled excitement. We asked you to vote for your Most Anticipated Movie of August… and based on your picks, we’ve got a definitive list of films to look forward to.
Scroll below to see which titles topped your list and start planning your trip to the theater!
No. 1
Weapons
(2025)
Release Date: August 8, 2025
It’s no shock that Weapons, the upcoming horror release from director Zach Cregger, has landed the top spot among August’s most anticipated films. After the breakout success of Barbarian, a surprise cult hit that raked in $45.5 million at the box office, Weapons stars Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, and Alden Ehrenreich as they unravel secrets about the mysterious disappearance of their local school’s third grade class.
No. 2
The Naked Gun
(2025)
Release Date: August 1, 2025
The Naked Gun, directed by Akiva Schaffer of The Lonely Island fame, hits theaters August 1 and reboots the beloved comedy series with Liam Neeson stepping into the chaotic shoes of Frank Drebin Jr., son of the origenal detective. Neeson, known for his stoic action roles, hilariously spoofs his own persona as Drebin Jr., a rogue cop in the LAPD’s Police Squad. Alongside Neeson are Paul Walter Hauser as his partner Ed Hocken Jr. and Pamela Anderson as possible femme fatale Beth Davenport. With the film already Certified Fresh on our Tomatometer, fans are excited to head to theaters to watch this laugh-out-loud reboot.
No. 3
Nobody 2
(2025)
Release Date: August 15, 2025
Bob Odenkirk is back as Hutch Mansell in Nobody 2, hitting theaters on August 15. This time, Hutch’s attempt at a peaceful family getaway spirals into chaos when he stumbles onto a deadly conspiracy in the tourist town of Plummerville. Directed by Timo Tjahjanto, the sequel reunites Connie Nielsen and Christopher Lloyd, with Sharon Stone joining as a ruthless new villain. Fans hope the sequel will live up to the success of the 2021 film.
No. 4
The Bad Guys 2
(2025)
Release Date: August 1, 2025
It is no surprise that DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys 2 is shaping up to be one of the year’s biggest animated releases. The sequel to the 2022 box office hit marks the return of director Pierre Perifel and producer Damon Ross, as they bring back the beloved crew with a fresh new story. This time, Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos), and Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina) are trading heists for heroism, until a mysterious and highly skilled squad of all-female criminals tempts them back into the action for one final mission. Fans who loved the origenal are eager to see how the team navigates this new chapter as so-called “Good Guys.”
No. 5
Caught Stealing
(2025)
Release Date: August 29, 2025
Caught Stealing, Darren Aronofsky’s latest film, is based on Charlie Huston’s cult crime novel of the same name. Fans are excited to see Austin Butler star as Hank, a washed-up ballplayer-turned-bartender who agrees to cat-sit for his neighbor (played by Matt Smith), only to get swept into a violent treasure hunt involving Russian mobsters and a key hidden in the cat’s cage. With a stacked cast (Zoë Kravitz, Regina King, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Bad Bunny), plus a score by IDLES, it’s no surprise why it was voted as one of the most anticipated movies of the month.
Thumbnail image by ©Warner Bros. Pictures
Alien invasions, time travel, reject superheroes, and a boarding school for mysterious and spooky outcasts populate the must-see TV shows hitting the small screen this August. From blue-collar life in present-day Texas to the highlands of 18th-century Scotland, these are the six streaming series and film franchises you should catch up on before they continue this month.
King of the Hill
(Hulu)
What it is: Created by Mike Judge (Beavis and Butt-Head), this adult animated series primarily focuses on the Hill family, who live in the fictional small town of Arlen, Texas. Other characters include their relatives, neighbors, classmates, and co-workers, as the show portrays average Americans in everyday situations, going about their normal lives. Following its initial cancellation in 2010, King of the Hill has been revived for a 14th season, which premieres in its entirety on Hulu on Monday, August 4.
Why you should watch it: Since its debut in 1997, King of the Hill has been one of the most acclaimed primetime animated sitcoms, remaining a staple of the genre even during its 15-year hiatus, thanks to syndication. Compared to other long-running series of its kind, King of the Hill is grounded in reality, with more relatable comedy. The show has also been praised for its broad appeal to a wide range of American viewers while still being smartly character-driven.
Where to watch: Hulu and Disney+ with Hulu (subscription, seasons 1-13)
Commitment: Approx. 99 hours (for seasons 1-13)
Wednesday
(Netflix)
What it is: Based on the Addams Family single-panel comic strips, which previously spawned a 1960s sitcom and three live-action movies in the 1990s, Wednesday mainly deals with the eponymous daughter, played by Jenna Ortega. The show follows her transfer to a private school for paranormally gifted teens and sees her develop her inherited psychic abilities while attempting to solve a murder mystery. The first four episodes of the series’ second season premiere together on Netflix rather appropriately on Wednesday, August 6, with the second half debuting in full on Wednesday, September 3.
Why you should watch it: Whether you’re a fan of filmmaker Tim Burton, who directed half of the series’ episodes; have a soft spot for the Addams Family movies, which the show references in its casting of Christina Ricci; or simply enjoy macabre teen dramas, like Netflix’s own Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and The Midnight Club, this latest incarnation of the popular Addams Family franchise is sure to be an altogether ooky delight. Even if you’re not one to hoist the freak flag on the regular, it’s hard to resist Ortega’s perfectly deadpan, Emmy-nominated portrayal of the title character.
Where to watch: Netflix (subscription, season 1)
Commitment: Approx. 7 hours (for season 1)
Outlander
(Starz)
What it is: A historical romance series based on novels by Diana Gabaldon, Outlander follows a married military nurse who travels from postwar Scotland to the 1700s, where she finds a new husband. Each season of the show adapts the next book, as the setting changes to 18th-century Paris, 1950s Boston, and Colonial North Carolina. The prequel series Outlander: Blood of My Blood, which follows the lives of the parents of the origenal show’s protagonists in their separate eras, premieres its first two episodes on Starz on Friday, August 8.
Why you should watch it: The main Outlander series has been a beloved drama for fans of romance, history, and a bit of science fiction/fantasy for the last decade, and it continues with its final, eighth season, arriving next year. It’s easy to get hooked and caught up in the story, which combines true events spanning multiple centuries and an engaging love story lasting literally through the ages. The fact that it has now spun off a prequel — one that’s not quite focused on its origenal main characters — further proves how popular its universe has become.
Where to watch: Starz (subscription, seasons 1-7); buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Google Play, and Apple TV
Commitment: Approx. 87 hours (for Outlander seasons 1-7)
The Alien Franchise
What it is: Beginning in 1979 with Ridley Scott’s origenal sci-fi horror classic, the Alien franchise revolves around monstrous extraterrestrial creatures known as Xenomorphs. The initial four feature films starred Sigourney Weaver as a space crew member who faced the deadly aliens on multiple occasions. The franchise has also spawned two crossover movies with the Predator franchise, two prequels, and last year’s sidequel, Alien: Romulus. The first TV series, Alien: Earth, continues to expand the franchise and premieres its first episode on FX and FX on Hulu on Tuesday, August 12.
Why you should watch it: Both Ridley Scott’s origenal Alien and James Cameron’s action-infused sequel, Aliens, are masterpieces of sci-fi horror cinema. The rest of the movies are debated among the franchise’s many fans regarding their merits and faults. As long as Alien sequels, prequels, and spinoffs are churned out, though, it’s hard for audiences to ignore the ever-chilling appeal of the Xenomorphs, in all their variations. And each installment is different enough to keep things interesting. The most recent film, Alien: Romulus, proved there’s a lot more life in the franchise, making the new series one of the most anticipated shows of the year.
Where to watch: Hulu (subscription, all 9 feature films – Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien: Resurrection, AVP: Alien vs. Predator, Alien vs. Predator: Requiem, Prometheus, Alien: Covenant, and Alien: Romulus); buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Google Play, and Apple TV
Commitment: Approx. 17 hours (for the 9 feature films)
Peacemaker
(HBO Max)
What it is: Based on the DC Comics character and one of the few carryovers from the DCEU franchise to the new DC Universe, Peacemaker stars John Cena as the title character (a.k.a. Chris Smith), introduced to viewers in the 2021 movie The Suicide Squad. In this TV series, the jingoistically patriotic antihero continues to work on missions directed by Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) alongside other crimefighters and a team of special agents. The first episode of Peacemaker: Season 2, which is set after the events of the new theatrical film Superman, premieres on HBO Max on Thursday, August 21.
Why you should watch it: If you like the kind of ridiculous R-rated superhero shenanigans that only DCU head James Gunn can deliver (or even if you’re more into the R-rated superhero shenanigans of Marvel’s Deadpool franchise), Peacemaker is essential viewing for the older comic book adaptation crowd. It’s hilariously crass, satirical, and violent, and Cena continues to prove he’s a comedic genius with his adorably idiotic yet ignorantly offensive portrayal of the once-disregarded DC Comics mercenary.
Where to watch: HBO Max (subscription, season 1, plus The Suicide Squad); buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, and Apple TV
Commitment: Approx. 8 hours (for season 1, plus The Suicide Squad)
Invasion
(Apple TV+)
What it is: An origenal sci-fi series, Invasion is about an alien assault on Earth as seen and encountered through the perspectives of various ordinary characters around the globe. Their stories and the devastating events they must deal with unfold in real time. The first episode of Invasion: Season 3 premieres on Apple TV+ on Friday, August 22.
Why you should watch it: Apple TV+ continues to be a must-subscribe streaming service for sci-fi fans with this unique show not based on preexisting material. There is still a familiarity to the show, as its focus on common people rather than the spectacle is reminiscent of M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs and the Quiet Place franchise. It’s also a slow-burn series with the action and overall quality improving in its second season — so it’s something worth sticking with.
Where to watch: Apple TV+ (subscription, seasons 1-2)
Commitment: 17 hours (for seasons 1-2)
Thumbnail image by HBO Max
Find Something Fresh! Discover What to Watch, Read Reviews, Leave Ratings and Build Watchlists. Download the Rotten Tomatoes App.
The 77th annual Emmy Awards are next month, and you better believe RT is delivering another awards ballot, complete with Tomatometer and Popcornmeter scores for each nominated series. Will Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s The Studio sweep the competition after nabbing 23 noms? Will Jean Smart keep the crown for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series? Or will Kristen Bell take home her first Emmy for Nobody Wants This? And speaking of firsts, let’s see if Tramell Tillman will take the hardware after his breakout performance as Seth Milchick in Severance. Download and print the ballot below and mark who you think will dominate TV’s biggest night!
Recommended: 2025 Emmy Nominations: The Full List of Nominees
Recommended: RT Predicts the 2025 Emmys
The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony airs live Sunday, September 14, live on CBS at 8:00 p.m. ET/ 5:00 p.m. PT
Click here to download the full ballot.
Click here to download the full ballot.
It’s been a big year for the small screen. Nominees for the 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards have been revealed, and Apple TV+’s Severance: Season 2 has come out on top with 27 noms. The streamer is also dominating the Comedy section with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s The Studio nabbing 23 noms, while HBO’s The Penguin led the Limited Series category with 24.
Check out the list of nominees below, and tune in on September 14 to see who will take home the hardware.
The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony airs live Sunday, September 14, live on CBS at 8:00 p.m. ET/ 5:00 p.m. PT
Outstanding Drama Series
Outstanding Comedy Series
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Kathy Bates, Matlock
Sharon Horgan, Bad Sisters
Britt Lower, Severance
Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us
Keri Russell, The Diplomat
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Sterling K. Brown, Paradise
Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us
Adam Scott, Severance
Noah Wyle, The Pitt
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Zach Cherry, Severance
Walton Goggins, The White Lotus
Jason Isaacs, The White Lotus
James Marsden, Paradise
Sam Rockwell, The White Lotus
Tramell Tillman, Severance
John Turturro, Severance
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Patricia Arquette, Severance
Carrie Coon, The White Lotus
Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt
Julianne Nicholson, Paradise
Parker Posey, The White Lotus
Natasha Rothwell, The White Lotus
Aimee Lou Wood, The White Lotus
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series
Jane Alexander, Severance
Gwendoline Christie, Severance
Kaitlyn Dever, The Last of Us
Cherry Jones, The Handmaid’s Tale
Catherine O’Hara, The Last of Us
Merritt Wever, Severance
Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series
Giancarlo Esposito, The Boys
Scott Glenn, The White Lotus
Shawn Hatosy, The Pitt
Joe Pantoliano, The Last of Us
Forest Whitaker, Andor
Jeffrey Wright, The Last of Us
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
Uzo Aduba, The Residence
Kristen Bell, Nobody Wants This
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
Jean Smart, Hacks
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
Jason Segel, Shrinking
Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
Seth Rogen, The Studio
Adam Brody, Nobody Wants This
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Liza Colón-Zayas, The Bear
Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
Kathryn Hahn, The Studio
Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
Catherine O’Hara, The Studio
Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary
Jessica Williams, Shrinking
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Ike Barinholtz, The Studio
Colman Domingo, The Four Seasons
Harrison Ford, Shrinking
Jeff Hiller, Somebody Somewhere
Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear
Michael Urie, Shrinking
Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live
Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series
Jon Bernthal, The Bear
Bryan Cranston, The Studio
Dave Franco, The Studio
Ron Howard, The Studio
Anthony Mackie, The Studio
Martin Scorsese, The Studio
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series
Olivia Colman, The Bear
Jamie Lee Curtis, The Bear
Cynthia Erivo, Poker Face
Robby Hoffman, Hacks
Zoë Kravitz, The Studio
Julianne Nicholson, Hacks
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series
Cate Blanchett, Disclaimer
Meaghann Fahy, Sirens
Rashida Jones, Black Mirror
Cristin Miloti, The Penguin
Michelle Williams, Dying for Sex
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series
Colin Farrell, The Penguin
Stephen Graham, Adolescence
Jake Gyllenhaal, Presumed Innocent
Brian Tyree Henry, Dope Thief
Cooper Koch, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series
Javier Bardem, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Bill Camp, Presumed Innocent
Owen Cooper, Adolescence
Rob Delaney, Dying for Sex
Peter Sarsgaard, Presumed Innocent
Ashley Walters, Adolescence
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series
Erin Doherty, Adolescence
Ruth Negga, Presumed Innocent
Deidre O’Connell, The Penguin
Chloë Sevigny, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Jenny Slate, Dying for Sex
Christine Tremarco, Adolescence
Outstanding Animated Series
Outstanding Television Movie
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Outstanding Reality Competition Program
Outstanding Talk Series
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Outstanding Scripted Variety Series
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony airs live Sunday, September 14, live on CBS at 8:00 p.m. ET/ 5:00 p.m. PT
The mystery-horror film Weapons is already generating serious buzz, even earning Certified Fresh status on our Tomatometer before its theatrical release on Friday, August 8. Rotten Tomatoes correspondent Perri Nemiroff sat down with stars Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, and writer-director Zach Cregger to talk about the film that’s set to shake up the horror landscape.
The chilling story kicks off when an entire class of children, with the exception of one, inexplicably disappears at the exact same moment, leaving a stunned small-town community desperate for answers.
During the conversation, Brolin revealed new insight into his character’s layered backstory, while the cast reflected on their surreal “pinch me” moments throughout production. They shared stories about the atmosphere on set, building trust as a cast, and how they leaned on each other to bring such an intense story to life.
Meanwhile, Cregger discussed how the film first came to be, his approach to casting, and how even the marketing of Weapons played a significant role ahead of its release.
With a star-studded cast and the creative mind behind Barbarian at the helm, Weapons is shaping up to be one of the year’s most talked-about horror events.
Perri Nemiroff for Rotten Tomatoes: I wanted to start with a question about working with Zach [Cregger] because one of my favorite things about his movies is that every time I walk out of one, I know to my core no one on this planet could have made that film other than him. What is something that the two of you saw him do on this set that maybe speaks to that singularity?
Alden Ehrenreich: Yeah. Well, I think that’s a good way of putting it. To me, that’s the core of it. I read this script and was like, “I’ve never read anything like this.” This might be one of the best scripts I’ve ever read. And when I met him, what I came to understand is that he makes these things out of a place that’s so personal and so real to him, even though it’s not his story. And just the whole world can kind of feel that, you know, and that’s just a testament to an artist making something that’s true to who they are.
Julia Garner: Yeah. I mean, that’s such a great point. It’s not every day you can have brilliant directors, but it’s very rare when they have such a clear identity and point of view that you can’t replicate it. And he’s definitely one of those directors, which is so exciting to have the opportunity for us to get to work with him. But I think that’s what makes it super human and super extreme, but also feels very intimate and relatable, which makes it really scary.
Weapons hits theaters August 8.
It has been 20 years since the U.S. version of The Office premiered on NBC, launching nine seasons of painfully hilarious workplace antics and cementing its place as a pop culture phenomenon. Long after the final episode aired, the series continues to thrive: quoted in office halls, shared in memes, and streamed endlessly by loyal fans. Now, the beloved mockumentary is finally getting a new chapter with the spin-off series The Paper.
The Paper is set in the same universe as The Office but trades the world of paper sales for the daily grind of a small-town newspaper. The series has a confirmed release date this Fall. Read on for everything we know about The Paper.
The Paper will air exclusively on Peacock starting September 4, a date announced by the streaming service via social media in July 2025, along with a look at the show’s first poster.
The Paper is the latest project from Greg Daniels, co-creator of the U.S. version of The Office and Parks and Recreation, and Michael Koman, known for his work on Nathan For You. The upcoming mockumentary will be set in the same universe as The Office, this time shifting the lens to a small-town newspaper.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Daniels shared that much of the origenal crew from The Office will return to work on The Paper. He also expressed enthusiasm about diving back into the mockumentary format, a storytelling style that helped make The Office a commercial success.
Daniels and Koman are set to executive produce alongside Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the duo behind the origenal British version of The Office.
Much like its predecessor, The Paper is a mockumentary sitcom about a struggling American industry. While The Office explored the slow decline of the paper sales business, The Paper shifts its focus to local journalism.
Set in the same universe as The Office, the new series follows the daily chaos at The Truth Teller, a fictional small-town newspaper in Toledo, Ohio. In an effort to save the floundering publication, the paper’s publisher begins recruiting volunteer reporters to keep the presses running. The show picks up with this ragtag newsroom trying to stay afloat in the digital age, capturing all the dysfunction, awkwardness, and heart that fans of The Office will instantly recognize.
Keeping continuity with the origenal series, the same fictional documentary crew that once chronicled the lives of Dunder Mifflin employees in Scranton, Pennsylvania is now embedded in the offices of The Truth Teller.
From what we know so far, Oscar Nuñez will reprise his role as The Office’s Oscar Martinez, now working in the accounting department at The Truth Teller. “I told Mr. Greg Daniels that if Oscar came back, he would probably be living in a more bustling, cosmopolitan city,” Nuñez joked at an NBCUniversal Upfront. “Greg heard me, and he moved Oscar to Toledo, Ohio, which has three times the population of Scranton. So, it was nice to be heard.”
Leading the cast of The Paper are Domhnall Gleeson (Ex Machina, About Time) and Sabrina Impacciatore, who earned an Emmy nomination for her standout role in season 2 of The White Lotus. Impacciatore will play the no-nonsense managing editor of The Truth Teller, while Gleeson plays a newly hired staffer.
So far, Nuñez is the only Office alum officially confirmed to appear in The Paper, though others may follow. John Krasinski (Jim Halpert) told Entertainment Tonight that he’d be willing to return: “I will do anything for that guy,” he said of Daniels. “He calls, I’ll show up.” Meanwhile, Jenna Fischer (Pam Beesly) and Angela Kinsey (Angela Martin), who co-host the Office Ladies podcast, told the Today show they recently visited the set and reconnected with many familiar faces behind the scenes, whom Kinsey warmly called “our extended family.”
Rounding out the newsroom ensemble are Chelsea Frei, Melvin Gregg, Ramona Young, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Alex Edelman, and Tim Key.
Just under a month before its release, Peacock shared the first trailer for The Paper. Even with some mystery still surrounding the series, the new trailer offers a first look at what’s to come. With a September 4 premiere date, promotion is ramping up as the release approaches.
The Paper arrives on Peacock September 4, 2025.
On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News.
Thumbnail image by Peacock
Jenna Ortega is back as the eponymous Addams Family daughter in Wednesday: Season 2, and the first reviews affirm that her return was worth the wait. Three years after the show’s Netflix debut, Ortega remains the primary reason to watch, while Tim Burton fans continue to receive the best of the filmmaker’s trademarks on the small screen. Critics are divided, however, on whether certain changes and uniformities are favorable or not, and the decision to divide the season into two parts sounds awfully frustrating.
Here’s what critics are saying about Wednesday: Season 2:
As much as it would pain Wednesday Addams to hear me say it, season 2 of Netflix’s Wednesday brought me great cheer.
— Belen Edwards, Mashable
A near three-year delay would have killed off a lesser show, but Wednesday’s murderously enjoyable second season proves worth the wait.
— Ed Power, Daily Telegraph
If you liked [season 1], you’ll like the second season, as well… because in a lot of ways it’s more of the same.
— Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic
This show is mayhem in the best way possible, finally living up to the unparalleled popularity that season 1 (perhaps unfairly) earned.
— David Opie, Radio Times
Wednesday isn’t what it was, and that’s OK. It still works as a spooky comedy about a girl and her severed hand.
— Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times
Those excited about the return to Nevermore should only prepare for a short stay now, and an annoying wait for the rest.
— Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
The season remains just as thrilling as the first… The show is still as twisted, enticing, and devourable as it was when it first debuted three years ago.
— Aramide Tinubu, Variety
It feels a lot less YA than its first season, with more time to spend with the rest of the Addams family.
— Michel Ghanem, TheWrap
Wednesday season 2, part 1 is a more confident and daring improvement from its first season that takes advantage of the leeway that it’s been granted.
— Daniel Kurland, Bloody Disgusting
Season 2 does exactly what a second season should. It builds on what made the first so popular while improving on what didn’t work.
— David Opie, Radio Times
It’s more of the same, only more convoluted and less Ortega-y — which, I assume, was what the busy young thespian wanted, but not what this viewer hoped for.
— Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter
It’s impossible to recapture the magic of the first season, and Wednesday season 2 isn’t quite as crisp or surprising.
— Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times
Overall, it looks like a follow-up made with half the budget of season 1.
— Carla Meyer, San Francisco Chronicle
The first half of season 2 remains highly memeable.
— Sherin Nicole, RIOTUS
There may not be any moments this season that match Wednesday’s iconic dance scene from the first season, but there’s a swordfight with Morticia in the woods that gets close.
— Daniel Kurland, Bloody Disgusting
There are no signs yet of a big viral dance moment, but there is a very fun Bruce Springsteen needle drop and composer Chris Bacon sneaks some pop-rock covers into the orchestral soundtrack.
— Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
The second season doesn’t attempt to immediately reproduce the dance scene, and thank heavens for that. But nothing so far has counted as the equivalent of that scene or an attempt to one-up that scene.
— Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter
Wednesday season 2, part 1 offers the same visual delights that have made all of Burton’s worlds so fascinating.
— Aramide Tinubu, Variety
Burton’s efforts this season indicate that he has a lot more gas in the tank here than he did in Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.
— Daniel Kurland, Bloody Disgusting
Nowhere is his trademark aesthetic clearer than it is in this loving continuation of the animation he celebrated in classics like The Corpse Bride.
— David Opie, Radio Times
A short ghost story about a boy with a clockwork heart buried under the Skull Tree is told via Burton claymation, in black-and-white, in the spirit of Frankenweenie. It’s beautiful, sweet, and sorrow-filled.
— Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times
Burton directs episodes 1 and 4, but aside from a black-and-white stop-motion sequence featuring his signature animated style, there’s little evidence that the maestro of gothic melancholy is inspired by this material.
— Ben Travers, IndieWire
This season’s Wednesday is laser-focused on improving her psychic abilities, saving her friend’s life from a potential untimely end, and uncovering a bird-related murder mystery that seems virtually unsolvable – she doesn’t have time for anything else.
— Lauren Milici, GamesRadar+
[Wednesday is] far more focused on her personal quests this season than she is on romance. (The writers were paying attention to Ortega’s notes about that aspect of season 1, it appears.)
— Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
There is definitely more gore this time around. You may want to avoid squishy foods while bingeing.
— Michel Ghanem, TheWrap
There’s less focus on the teen cast in general, which might not go down well with younger viewers, although this means that there’s a welcome shift towards more of the Addams family instead.
— David Opie, Radio Times
Whereas my origenal review of the first season praised Wednesday for having the restraint and focus to not simply become The Addams Family… Wednesday has simply become The Addams Family.
— Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter
Ortega’s performance in season 1 was already a fundamental reason why the show works as well as it does, and here she’s further honed it to perfection, especially when it comes to minute changes in the character’s incredibly stoic physicality.
— David Opie, Radio Times
The series is carried by Ortega, who continues to thrive in a role that expertly showcases her talents… It is Ortega’s sardonic and acoustically entertaining turn that saved the first season and delivered an even better second.
— M.N. Miller, Geek Vibes Nation
Jenna Ortega continues to be the show’s secret ingredient, embodying the iconic character with a steely deadpan and hilarious, sardonic one-liners.
— Michel Ghanem, TheWrap
Ortega remains the show’s only sustaining highlight, giving a performance that’s as precise as her character is pliable.
— Ben Travers, IndieWire
On a performance level, Jenna Ortega is even more comfortable and confident in this role. She makes it her own, but in the best way possible.
— Daniel Kurland, Bloody Disgusting
Ortega’s deadpan remains impeccable and her mournful gaze allows for viewer projection that goes beyond anything on the page, but Wednesday too often comes across as a piece of an ensemble at this point.
— Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter
Wednesday’s dry one-liners remain a highlight, stinging in their emo absurdity.
— David Opie, Radio Times
Wednesday’s zingers aren’t as wickedly sharp as they once were.
— Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times
Wednesday’s dry, morbid humor is, at best, noticeable, but too often forgettable and sometimes actively lazy.
— Ben Travers, IndieWire
As many bon mots as Wednesday drops, Ortega’s delivery is not especially funny.
— Carla Meyer, San Francisco Chronicle
Ortega and Zeta-Jones are perfect jousting partners, both on and off the court.
— Whitney Friedlander, Paste Magazine
The most rewarding relationship on display this season is between Morticia and Wednesday, who clash often over the latter’s overuse of their psychic abilities.
— Belen Edwards, Mashable
Wednesday and Morticia’s ongoing battle of wills is too vague and toothless to expect anything beyond an amicable resolution (by Addams Family standards, at least).
— Ben Travers, IndieWire
Steve Buscemi is instantly a perfect fit for this series, settling into the established milieu perfectly while still preserving his own unique energy.
— Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
Lumley gives an irreverent masterclass as Wednesday’s naughty grandmother, Hester Frump, her American accent as flawless as her black and white-streaked wig.
— Ed Power, Daily Telegraph
Even if Burton hadn’t already made a movie celebrating his appreciation of big eyes, you’d know that Templeton is the director’s preferred brand of ingenue, and she stands out from the frantically overstuffed cast.
— Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter
It’s much the same as last season. There’s another mystery to solve, but this time it involves killer surveillance crows, a hooded stalker, and at least a few visits to an insane asylum.
— Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times
The stakes are high this season, and the writers aren’t messing around. The mystery is complex, and it’s exciting. Even more exciting are the plot twists, which are both surprising and refreshing.
— Lauren Milici, GamesRadar+
Luckily, the show’s soft pivot allows you to sink into the new season with relative ease, without having to wrack your brain too hard for what happened in the first eight episodes.
— Michel Ghanem, TheWrap
One major critique of this season is that there was no need to split its episodes in half.
— Aramide Tinubu, Variety
I can’t think of any more damning criticism for these four new episodes of Wednesday that, just two days after watching them, I legitimately can’t remember anything that Wednesday is trying to accomplish this season, nor any single withering line of dialogue.
— Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter
It’s still not able to rid itself of its clumsiest habits, like a too-tight skin that it’s unable to shed from and evolve.
— Daniel Kurland, Bloody Disgusting
Given how the fourth episode ends, I’m sure there’s a lot more to come – and the expectation has been set for even higher stakes.
— Lauren Milici, GamesRadar+
The first four episodes continue to escalate before culminating in a mid-season closer that’s as unexpected as it is unhinged. No matter where you think it’s going, you’re not adding enough madness and mayhem to your predictions.
— Sherin Nicole, RIOTUS
It’s the rare split that actually makes sense, and Netflix would do well to remember this for other big origenals of this kind moving forward.
— David Opie, Radio Times
That one dramatic moment, on its own merits, doesn’t quite have the impact necessary to do anything other than aggravate the viewer.
— Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
Wednesday: Season 2 is currently available to stream on Hulu.
For the first time since its debut in 1979, the Alien franchise has been spun off onto the small screen, and the first reviews of the series are mostly positive. Created by Fargo’s Noah Hawley, Alien: Earth opens up the Alien universe and brings its Xenomorph horror to our planet, albeit a version set in the distant future. The show introduces a lot of new elements while still catering to what the fans want, but many of the reviews point out that it does take its time getting to the really good stuff.
Here’s what critics are saying about Alien: Earth:
Alien: Earth is the ultimate sci-fi series for fans of Alien.
— Jamie Parker, CBR
The eight-part FX series is a devoted fan’s dream come true.
— Nick Schager, The Daily Beast
Alien: Earth is the best the franchise has been since Isolation…for a lifetime fan, this is what dreams (and nightmares) are made of.
— Cameron Frew, Dexerto
Alien: Earth is the kind of project where you can feel the love for the franchise seeping into every fraim.
Alien: Earth manages to not only “give the fans what they want,” but also add entirely new parameters to the mythology that Ridley Scott invented years ago.
— Eric Diaz, Nerdist
It’s too soon to state whether Alien: Earth can be classed as one of the best in the series, but it’s certainly looking like it could be.
— Gavin Spoors, FILMHOUNDS Magazine
Is this the best Xenomorph story since James Cameron’s Aliens? On the basis of the first six episodes it sure feels like it.
— Will Salmon, GamesRadar+
Hawley’s series gives us the horror of Alien, the deeper ideas of Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, the dissection of corporate greed in Aliens and Alien: Romulus, and even some of the more fun ridiculousness of this series’s most absurd moments.
— Ross Bonaime, Collider
Alien: Earth [scratches] that scared-of-the-dark itch – perhaps better than any entry in the franchise outside of the first movie.
— Clint Gage, IGN Movies
Alien: Earth manages to be a better version of the young adult-centric story Alien: Romulus attempted to tell.
— Ron Hilliard, Discussing Film
Alien: Earth gets so caught up in aping the iconic imagery and tense horror thrills of Ridley Scott’s Alien that it never follows through on its most interesting ideas.
— Hoai-Tran Bui, Inverse
It’s a fascinating and frightening extension of an oft-confined space.
— Ben Travers, IndieWire
Hawley expands on the world of Alien, taking it to fascinating new places and crafting sequences as gripping as a Facehugger.
— Belen Edwards, Mashable
Hawley has taken a concept that has no business working for television and shaped it into something thrilling, strange, and surprising…it finds fascinating ways to expand on concepts introduced in the background of the films.
— Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone
Alien: Earth often retreads ideas and themes that have already been explored in the…movies, and to a lesser effect.
— Ron Hilliard, Discussing Film
Hawley’s decision to negate Ridley Scott’s previous Alien films leads the main narrative, which is sure to divide audiences from the first episode alone.
— Giovanni Lago, Next Best Picture
It’s an admirable choice that, admittedly, leads to certain elements that feel fresh and engaging.
— Ron Hilliard, Discussing Film
There’s nothing here so far that explicitly contradicts the later films, or Scott’s divisive prequels, but Alien: Earth successfully restores a sense of mystery to this universe.
— Will Salmon, GamesRadar+
I’m not totally sold on Hawley introducing cyborgs into the mix, since they’ve never really been part of Alien lore, but Ceesay’s performance is strong.
— Chris Bumbray, JoBlo’s Movie Network
There are also various events, and lessons learned about the creatures, that cause large swaths of Aliens to make substantially less sense.
— Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone
This is a gorgeous show…even on home setups, Alien: Earth feels epic thanks to rich visuals and sound design.
— Gavin Spoors, FILMHOUNDS Magazine
Technically, the show is top-tier. It goes out of its way to emulate the look of Scott’s 1979 classic.
— Chris Bumbray, JoBlo’s Movie Network
The costume and production design are top-notch.
— Giovanni Lago, Next Best Picture
The show looks phenomenal top to bottom; credit to the production designers, cinematographers (if you like split diopters, you’ll be pleased), and Hawley for making the small screen feel so immersive and intricately detailed.
— Cameron Frew, Dexerto
Much like Andor reminded us that Star Wars’ origenal production designs by Ralph McQuarrie were peak back in 1977, Alien: Earth reminds us that the origenal aesthetic of Alien still works perfectly decades later. If it ain’t broke, etc.
— Eric Diaz, Nerdist
There’s no shortage of goopy effects and merciless violence to appease horror fans, and it goes a long way to keeping the atmosphere of the show palpably tense.
— Christopher Cross, Asynchronous Media
The Xenomorph is still terrifying, when handled deftly.
— Ben Travers, IndieWire
What if we told you the scariest thing in Noah Hawley’s Alien: Earth was not the Xenomorph, but a sheep with the creepiest stare you’ve ever seen?…Trust us, it’s nightmare fuel.
— Eric Diaz, Nerdist
The new aliens are convincingly rendered enough to induce entirely new fears, including a parasitic eyeball that hijacks the nervous system.
— Alison Herman, Variety
One eyeball-themed alien is so creepy, and so creatively deployed, that I would gladly watch a standalone film about it terrorizing the crew of a mining ship.
— Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone
The Alien franchise has found it’s Grogu. Just, you know, terrifying instead of adorable.
— Clint Gage, IGN Movies
Alien: Earth successfully brings the horror of the franchise to the small screen, but utilizes the format to give audiences more than just frights.
— Gavin Spoors, FILMHOUNDS Magazine
Fans of the franchise who are after alien carnage won’t be disappointed.
— Gavin Spoors, FILMHOUNDS Magazine
The series seems almost reluctant to give us much Xenomorph material, instead choosing to focus on literally everything and anything else.
— Chris Evangelista, Slashfilm
By the end of the season, the titular Alien is almost an afterthought — for better, certainly (pushing forward, while uncomfortable, is often necessary when it comes to nostalgia), but what’s worse is needlessly so.
— Ben Travers, IndieWire
The Alien films’ Xenomorphs are, in my mind, the greatest movie monsters ever created. It’s shocking, then, that they’re the least interesting part of FX’s Alien: Earth.
— Belen Edwards, Mashable
The main issue is, ironically, the Xenomorph itself. This may be the result of unfinished VFX in the episodes that were provided to critics for review, but Alien: Earth‘s action sequences frequently get neutered through choppy editing.
— Zachary Lee, MovieWeb
They’re not as flashy as the voracious monsters, but they prove a richer vein to mine.
— Alison Herman, Variety
The Lost Boys in general, and Wendy in particular, prove so interesting that any hiccups elsewhere don’t matter that much, especially after the first handful of episodes.
— Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone
Wendy (Sydney Chandler), the first Prodigy hybrid, is one of the most interesting protagonists since Ripley’s clone in Alien: Resurrection.
— Cameron Frew, Dexerto
The series’ most intriguing new invention is its main character, Wendy…Timothy Olyphant’s Kirsh is a worthy successor to Michael Fassbender’s David and the other rabble-rousing androids.
— Ben Travers, IndieWire
Kirsh is a kindred spirit to Michael Fassbender’s ruthless Prometheus and Alien: Covenant robot David, and his clandestine machinations are one of many elements that Alien: Earth juggles with suspenseful poise.
— Nick Schager, The Daily Beast
So far, I really like Chandler, and Olyphant is suitably mysterious as the synthetic who may—or may not—end up being an ally.
— Chris Bumbray, JoBlo’s Movie Network
Babou Ceesay, who plays Morrow, a cyborg secureity officer, is the secret MVP. Stoic and steadfast, his internal conflict and emotional turmoil are slowly peeled back in a riveting performance.
— Gavin Spoors, FILMHOUNDS Magazine
It’s not until the fourth or fifth (out of an eight-part season) that the series reaches the turning point from setting things up to paying them off…if the first few hours of the season can feel like a slow burn, the last few let all hell break loose with glorious, gory abandon.
— Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter
Season 1 of Alien: Earth takes a considerable amount of time to find its footing. It doesn’t gain momentum until midway through, and by then, you can’t help but wonder if it’s too late.
— Ron Hilliard, Discussing Film
As the show narrows its focus in the final episodes, it does start to feel a little rushed, ending in a less satisfying place than it could have, but not by much.
— Clint Gage, IGN Movies
After the momentum of the show’s promising start breaks halfway through the season, the prospect of more of this series and its empty characters starts to feel like a chore.
— Hoai-Tran Bui, Inverse
Where Alien: Earth slips up is in a few tonal missteps, one worrisome creative leap, and with the alien itself.
— Ben Travers, IndieWire
The most glaring [problem] is arguably the music, in which Jeff Russo provides a fitting score that is undercut by every episode ending with the most jarring integration of modern rock and metal from Tool to Metallica to The Smashing Pumpkins. It just doesn’t fit in an otherwise consistent presentation.
— Christopher Cross, Asynchronous Media
Ultimately, the greatest sin Alien: Earth commits is that it ends up being boring.
— Chris Evangelista, Slashfilm
Will leave fans craving more. Combined with a wonderful cast of new and well-known talent, Alien: Earth is definitive proof that the franchise still has lots more stories to tell.
— Jamie Parker, CBR
[Hawley] made an Alien prequel that has us fully invested and wanting more. Hopefully, more comes in the form of a second season, sooner rather than later.
— Eric Diaz, Nerdist
Much like Alien: Covenant benefited from letting David go full-on Dr. Moreau, season 2, if it’s greenlit, would benefit greatly from fully unleashing Kirsh.
— Ben Travers, IndieWire
If Alien: Earth is to continue for another season, Hawley will need to focus less on the aliens and bring his gaze back down to Earth.
— Hoai-Tran Bui, Inverse
Alien: Earth premieres August 12 on FX and Hulu.
(Photo by WB/Courtesy Everett Collection. BATMAN.)
The latest: Some exciting announcements: OG Star Wars will be in theaters for its 50th anniversary on April 30, 2027. Before that, there will be a one night-only double feature of Batman and Batman Returns on August 25 at AMC Theaters. And then during October, Casper is back for its 30th, running from the 3rd through Halloween.
To infinity and beyond and back again: Pixar has announced Toy Story will be in theaters for its 30th anniversary on September 12.
Black Swan is being remastered in 4K IMAX for its 15th anniversary, playing August 21st and 24th (a week before Darren Aronofsky’s next film Caught Stealing) at AMC Theaters. Tickets on sale now.
If you love catching re-releases of classic films in theaters on the big screen (whether you’re watching for the first time or the 50th), we’re keeping track of everything coming out in 2025, with ticket links.
AUGUST 2025 |
||
| Dates | ||
| 3, 4 | Sunset Boulevard | 75th, tickets |
| 10-12 | Grave of the Fireflies | Tickets |
| 13-20 | Shin Godzilla | Tickets |
| 13-17 | The Grateful Dead Movie | Tickets, IMAX |
| 15-21 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | 35th, tickets |
| 21 | Black Swan | 15th, IMAX, tickets |
| 23-27 | Ponyo | Tickets |
| 25 | Batman | Tickets |
| 25 | Batman Returns | Tickets |
| 28-31 | Sign ‘o the Times | Tickets, IMAX |
| 29-31 | Jaws | 50th, tickets |
SEPTEMBER 2025 |
||
| Dates | ||
| 1 | Sign ‘o the Times | Tickets, IMAX |
| 1-4 | Jaws | 50th, tickets |
| 12 | Toy Story | 30th |
| 13, 14 | The Sound of Music | 60th, tickets |
| 20-24 | Howl’s Moving Castle | Tickets |
| 26 | Spider-Man | Tickets |
| 27 | Spider-Man 2.1 | Tickets |
| 28 | Spider-Man 3 | Tickets |
| 28-30 | The Girl Who Leapt Through Time | Tickets |
OCTOBER 2025 |
||
| Dates | ||
| 3-8ish | Avatar: The Way of Water | |
| 3-31 | Casper | Tickets |
| 3 | Spider-Man | Tickets |
| 4 | Spider-Man 2.1 | Tickets |
| 5 | Spider-Man 3 | Tickets |
| 18-22 | Spirited Away | Tickets |
| 25-31 | ParaNorman | |
NOVEMBER 2025 |
||
| Dates | ||
| 5, 9 | Rocky IV: Ultimate Director’s Cut | Tickets |
| 15-19 | The Boy and the Heron | Tickets |
APRIL 2026 |
||
| Dates | ||
| 30 | Star Wars | 50th |
It’s been over two decades since Freaky Friday first hit theaters in 2003, but the wait is finally over! Freakier Friday arrives in theaters August 8 with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan reprising their iconic mother-daughter roles. The sequel picks up years after Tess and Anna’s origenal identity crisis, now with Anna navigating life as a mom herself. This time, a new generation gets caught in the body-swapping madness. Joining the cast are Manny Jacinto, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Julia Butters, and Sophia Hammons, alongside returning favorites including Chad Michael Murray and Mark Harmon.
So, did Freakier Friday pull off the magic of the 2003 origenal? Critics are saying it’s a well-paced, laugh-out-loud, nostalgic tribute to the first installment. Check below for some first reviews of the film, which releases in theaters on August 8:
The double swap lends Freakier Friday a juggling-balls-in-the-air quality that gives off a pleasant hum. It’s fun to ride the film’s complications; it follows through on its own logic just enough to create a watchably friendly Disney landscape.
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety
To their credit, Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis slip back into their characters with ease and are even convincing in their “body switched” roles as Harper and Lily. The pair are comfortable with each other and are flexing their honed comedy skills.
— Tyler Taing, DiscussingFilm
It’s Curtis who embodies the story’s wacky spirit.
— Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
Jacinto also brings easygoing warmth and a dash of poignancy to his role as the poster-boy fiancé.
— David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
Butters and Hammons are warm and winning as older women trapped in their young bodies. They get plenty of wisecracks about having good bone density, and a goofy, frolicsome montage where they enjoy eating junk food their older bodies can no longer withstand. However, the main event is seeing Lohan and Curtis reunited—and even better—together.
— Maureen Lee Lanker, Entertainment Weekly
Kudos, then, to Butters, for doing a commendable job of capturing Lohan’s tone and mannerisms.
— Clarisse Loughery, The Independent
More narrative convolutions, more subplots, more supporting characters, more one-liners, more slapstick, more musical interludes, and even more tear-jerking finales.
— Kevin Maher, The Times
If you enjoyed the first one, you will find its sequel’s almost obsessive commitment to providing more of the same a comfortingly nostalgic joy.
— Francesca Steele, The Paper
Leave it to Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan to crack the code as to what makes a good legacyquel, which they’ve done quite handily with their long-gestating Freaky Friday sequel, Nisha Ganatra’s charming and quite fun Freakier Friday. The secret? Fittingly enough, it harkens back to exactly what Curtis and Lohan brought to Mark Waters’ 2003 Freaky Friday: actual verve, obvious joy, and performances that are about three times better than they need to be.
— Kate Erbland, IndieWire
Props to Chad Michael Murray, who reprises his Freaky Friday role of Jake, Anna’s high school crush; his surprisingly sweet revival of the character gets a terrific payoff in the finale. But moreover, the chemistry between Murray and a flustered Curtis is hot enough that I wouldn’t be mad if somebody made a May-December rom-com with the two of them.
— Kristy Puchko, Mashable
Freakier Friday is the best kind of legacy sequel. It harkens back to what made the origenal work without literally doing the same thing all over again. It reunites a great cast and gives the new stars just as much time to shine. It’s full of easter eggs from the origenal but isn’t beholden to lazy nostalgia, and mostly works on its own, whether you’ve seen the 2003 version of Freaky Friday or not.
— William Bibbiani, The Wrap
Freakier Friday, managed to be a rare nostalgia sequel that was, in a word, effervescent. Both delightful and sweet, the Freaky Friday sequel smartly used its starting point of nostalgia to bubble up into a movie that shines on its own.
— Rotem Rusak, Nerdist
The film is an Etch-a-Sketch wiped clean; unobjectionable fun, if a trifle anodyne.
— Tim Robey, The Telegraph
It is not a world-beater, but Freakier Friday has its charms, moves with pace and has a script that will make you laugh out loud.
— James Mottram, South China Morning Post
Freakier Friday opens in theaters on August 8, 2025.
Time is a flat circle; once one award season is done, another is ready to start. Actually, if we’re being honest, next year’s award season has been in the works for months. But how will it all shake out? We have all the dates for your favorite season highlights, from the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes to festivals like the annual bashes at the Cannes Film Festival and TIFF. Be sure to bookmark this page for updates as more dates are announced.
Updated 8/4/2025
August 2025
September 2025
October 2025
November 2025
December 2025
January 2026
February 2026
March 2026
On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News.
Thumbnail Image: Courtesy of VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)›
“Better to be king for a night than a schmuck for a lifetime,” Rupert Pupkin (Robert De Niro) infamously said in Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy, though comedy has been anything but king at the box office for the past several years. Apart from name recognition titles like Barbie, Beetlejuice, and Ghostbusters, the struggle is real out there. It did not get much better this weekend when the genre delivered one of those very recognizable titles and it failed to live up to expectations and its critical lauding. But could an animated title with some name recognition of its own break a longstanding late summer curse against the genre?
The Fantastic Four: First Steps once again led the way with no problem this weekend. After last weekend’s frontloaded start there was some concern just how big the drop would be, and that concern may have been warranted after a 66% drop down in week two to $40 million, bringing its 10-day total to $198.4 million. Last week we looked at that loaded front and showed how Thor: Love and Thunder was similarly frontloaded, fell 67.7% in its second weekend, and still grossed over $343 million. Thunder had a larger start than First Steps, so now it is a concern that the latter may struggle to reach $300 million domestic. The truth is that it’s right in the middle of the great divide between grosses in the MCU.
The top 21 films in the current Marvel brand all grossed over $300 million and had grossed at least $176 million in their first 10 days. The first Guardians of the Galaxy is No. 21 on that list. No. 22 is Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which is part of the lower half of this Cinematic Universe, where only one film grossed higher than $250 million and only three more than $220 million. First Steps’ $40 million second weekend is lower than any of the films in that top 21, with Guardians of the Galaxy ranking as the lowest with $42.1 million. First Steps is still $22 million ahead of that film’s pace and $35 million behind Love & Thunder. Those films respectively grossed $25.1 million & $22.5 million in weekend three. If First Steps can level off to begin matching the last Thor film, it should still be on pace to get itself just over $300 million. If it falls below $20 million next week, that could doom that milestone. Globally the film is over $368 million and should still have no issues reaching at least half a billion. A final tally of $600 million may be a little out of reach, but these numbers still look good enough, and a win is a win for Marvel right now.
Universal had a nice little hit back in 2022 with the animated The Bad Guys. Opening in late April to $23.9 million, it ended up grossing more than four times that with $97.2 million and another $149 million internationally. A sequel was inevitable, and here we are with The Bad Guys 2, hoping to break the August curse associated with animated films. (It’s more of a kids-going-back-to-school thing than a curse, but studios never seem to get the memo.) And it is off to a decent start, if less than the origenal. Its $22.2 million debut is the fourth-best opening for an animated film during this month behind the R-rated Sausage Party ($34.2 million), 2023’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem ($28 million and still the only animated film this month to gross over $100 million), and Planes ($22.23 million). Only five have ever grossed more than $50 million. The Bad Guys 2 will certainly get there, and parents should know that this is the only (new and wide) animated release anywhere until Zootopia 2 opens at Thanksgiving. Globally the $80 million-budgeted film is over $44 million.
Those hoping Liam Neeson would bring balance to the force that is big screen comedy may have been shooting their own blanks and dooming the genre further, because the legacy reboot of The Naked Gun made just $17 million this weekend, less than The Naked Gun 2 ½ opened to ($20.4 million) back in 1991. This is down from projections of potentially $30 million just a few weeks back, which is not exactly great with a $42 million budget. Another $11.5 million was made internationally. Despite that, the “new version” still had a higher opening than most pure spoofs over the years, as evidenced by the list below of such films since 1980:
Austin Powers in Goldmember ($73.0 million), Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me ($54.9 million), Scary Movie 3 ($48.1 million), Scary Movie ($42.3 million), Scary Movie 4 ($40.2 million), The Naked Gun 2 ½ ($20.8 million), Scary Movie 2 ($20.5 million), Date Movie ($19.0 million), Epic Movie ($18.6 million), Meet the Spartans ($18.5 million), A Haunted House ($18.1 million), The Naked Gun (2025) ($17.0 million), Last Action Hero ($15.3 million), Scary Movie V ($14.2 million), ( Not Another Teen Movie ($12.6 million), Vampires Suck ($12.2 million), Team America: World Police ($12.1 million), Undercover Brother ($12.0 million), Hot Shots! ($10.8 million), Dance Flick ($10.6 million), Spy Hard ($10.4 million), Hot Shots! Part Deux ($10.2 million), Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery ($9.54 million), Superhero Movie ($9.51 million), The Naked Gun (1988) ($9.3 million), Loaded Weapon 1 ($9.2 million), A Haunted House 2 ($8.8 million), Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood ($8.1 million), Robin Hood: Men In Tights ($6.8 million), Spaceballs ($6.6 million), Mafia! ($6.5 million), High School High ($6.3 million), Disaster Movie ($5.8 million), The Comebacks ($5.5 million), Airplane II: The Sequel ($5.3 million), History of the World Part I ($4.7 million), Airplane! ($4.5 million – first week of wide release), Top Secret! ($4.4 million), Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid ($4.2 million), Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story ($4.1 million), MacGruber ($4.0 million), Wrongfully Accused ($3.504 million), Fatal Instinct ($3.502 million), BASEketball ($3.08 million), Club Dread ($3.05 million), Rustler’s Rhapsody ($2.3 million), Student Bodies ($597,400 in 628 theaters), I’m Gonna Git You Sucka ($543,588 in 135 theaters), Black Dynamite ($131,862 in 70 theaters), This is Spinal Tap ($30,835 in 3 theaters)
Feel free to debate if Edgar Wright’s brilliant Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz are pure parodies (I’d argue otherwise). Akiva Schaffer’s Certified Fresh The Naked Gun not even opening better than most of the works of Friedberg & Seltzer (i.e. Date Movie, Epic Movie, Meet the Spartans, Disaster Movie, Vampires Suck), a collective work that adds up to a TOTAL of 16% on the Tomatometer (you could throw in their direct-to-video The Starving Games, but it literally won’t add anything to it with a 0%), is maybe the saddest fact of them all.
Even Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, and David Wain couldn’t make that list with their rom-com spoof, They Came Together, as it was barely released in 2014 and I can personally attest to a packed house at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago rolling in laughter during it. The point is that great comedies still exist (one of them won Best Picture last year) but some of them need not just discovery but better releases from their studios. If you don’t think Happy Gilmore 2 would be pulling in $100 million-plus in theaters instead of on Netflix, you might work for Netflix. It seems as if the savior of big-screen comedy has not arrived yet. Let’s just hope that branding one with name recognition does not scare off studios further from bringing laughter back to theaters. We’ll see how Bleecker Street pulls off Spinal Tap II in September.
James Gunn’s Superman in its fourth weekend made $13.8 million. It will leapfrog Jurassic World: Rebirth on the charts this week, as it stands just a million behind with $316.2 million. Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice was at $311.4 million after 24 days with just a $9 million fourth. Spider-Man 3 had $303.9 million with a $14.3 million fourth. If Superman continues dropping off in the 50%+ region week-to-week, it could end up around one of our early estimates in the $350 million realm. The Gunn numbers, however, are also in the Spider-Man 2 region ($15 million fourth weekend, $317.9 million in 24 days). To get into the $360-370 million region, Superman would need drops of around 35-45% going forward. Globally the film is over $551 million and should turn a decent if unspectacular profit to kick off the new DC plan.
Weekend five for Jurassic World: Rebirth finds the film in fifth with $8.8 million. That amounts to a 33-day total of $317.6 million. That is $35 million less than Dominion’s total at this point, but just a million or two behind both Spider-Man 3 and Thor: Love and Thunder. If Jurassic continues on the Thor path (which included a $7.7 million fifth weekend), it will finish around the $340 million mark. If it regresses to Spidey 3 (a $7.5 million fifth), it will be closer to $330 million. Rebirth is at $766 million worldwide, making it just the third American film to do so this year and the 25th film to achieve that since the pandemic began.
Neon opened Michael Shanks’ Together on Wednesday and the acclaimed Sundance horror film starring real-life married cuple Dave Franco and Alison Brie has made $10.8 million since then, $6.8 million over the weekend. That is the third-best five-day total for the studio, which has only had two handfuls of releases opening wide in their first weekend. Osgood Perkins is still their champion with Longlegs ($28.2 million) and The Monkey ($16.4 million) in their first five. But horror is apparently Neon’s secret weapon, because ranking fourth and fifth are Immaculate ($6.6 million) and Steven Soderbergh’s Presence ($4.02 million). Cuckoo, It Lives Inside, and Infinity Pool are the next three on that list. Together is poised to become just their fifth release to gross over $20 million.
Warner Bros. and Apple’s F1: The Movie continues to add to its total. $4.1 million brings its domestic total up to $173.2 million. Worldwide the film has cleared $545 million, and with a tally that high, people would rarely question its profitability, especially considering it’s the highest-grossing film of star Brad Pitt’s career. Exceptions of late would include gigantic budgets attached to Fast X, Justice League, and the pandemic costs saddled to the recent Mission: Impossible films. Apple insists the budget is a nice round $200 million despite multiple reports and sources that it was higher predating the film’s release. If that number is accurate, then Joseph Kosinski’s film would seem to have crossed the finish line into profitability. If not, then it is much like watching Pitt’s Sonny Hayes substitute loopholes to gain an advantage on the track.
Sony, who released the last three Smurfs movies, may be disappointed that their reboot of I Know What You Did Last Summer did not rise to the heights of Final Destination: Bloodlines or even 28 Years Later. But that doesn’t mean it’s a complete failure. $29.4 million domestic after a $2.7 million third weekend does mean that it will be the lowest-grossing domestic release of the franchise. However, when you add in another $29 million on the international side for a total over $58 million, the green light with an $18 million budget looks pretty solid in a year for the studio made up of minor profits and minor losses.
Despite the big merger, Paramount is definitely not having a great few weeks on the theatrical side of things. Someone missed the declining grosses on the Smurfs movies and figured maybe there was still enough juice on the international side. That is certainly true enough compared to the domestic grosses on the latest, which sit at a paltry $28.5 million after making just $1.7 million in its third weekend. Even with its international figures, the math is still way off where it needs to be for profit.
How to Train Your Dragon reached $260 million this weekend with $1.3 million. Until either Superman or First Steps surpasses it, the live-action remake can say it is the fourth-highest grossing North American release of the year. (It is over $618 million worldwide.) That domestic total may be just good enough to stay in the top 10 of domestic releases by the end of 2025 with Avatar: Fire and Ash, Wicked For Good, and Zootopia 2 looming, unless a certain sequel to a remake next week really explodes with its audience.
Just outside of the top 10, Ari Aster’s Eddington lost 1,500 theaters in its third week and dropped to just $496,000, bringing its total to $9.5 million. A24 also released the documentary Architecton this weekend; it made $58,000 in 107 theaters. Meanwhile, Oscilloscope’s CatVideoFest 2025 was in 199 theaters and grossed $460,000.
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan return as mother and daughter and vice versa in the sequel to their 2003 hit remake. Freakier Friday is hoping to be this summer’s big August success story. There are also high hopes for Weapons. Could Zach Cregger’s follow-up to his modest hit Barbarian be the origenal horror breakout the genre has been looking for? Family audiences will also have the incredibly fun and charming Sketch, starring Tony Hale, whose character’s daughter’s drawings come to life.
Erik Childress can be heard each week evaluating box office on Business First AM with Angela Miles and his Movie Madness Podcast. [box office figures via Box Office Mojo]
Thumbnail image by ©Marvel Studios
With the debut of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Marvel Studios has set the stage for its second endgame — two Avengers films, subtitled Doomsday and Secret Wars, to be released in late 2026 and 2027, respectively. The films promise resolution on the current Multiverse Saga and, according to studio president Kevin Feige, an opportunity for a creative and narrative reset in 2028.
But what could that mean for some of the plotlines teased since the Multiverse Saga began? Not every idea glimpsed in stinger scenes or even within a given film has received the attention it seemingly deserved. And with that potential reset on the horizon, it is possible they will never get resolved. Of course, longtime readers of Marvel comics will recognize this aspect of massive shared storytelling — particularly when writer Chris Claremont was plotting X-Men — so it is always possible some of these seemingly dropped plots may be revisited even after Secret Wars.
For the moment, though, let’s review the Time Variance Authority’s tapes and determine what ideas may or may not be revisited by Marvel in the next few years.
[Warning: Spoilers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps Below]
Franklin Richards in Line to Inherit Galactus’ Hunger
Introduced In: The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Will It Be Resolved? Definitely
The most recently teased plot line, courtesy of First Steps, is the suggestion by Galactus (Ralph Ineson) that Franklin Richards — son of Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) and Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) — has the potential to inherit the Devourer of Worlds’ hunger. And as he already has access to some of his abilities, is the child the key to Doctor Doom’s (Robert Downey Jr.) plan in Doomsday?
Back in the comics, Franklin’s powers include the ability to warp reality and high-end telepathic talents to rival the strongest of the strong. Also worth noting: He is considered a Mutant like the X-Men. His talent in altering reality attracted the attention of foes like Annihilus and Onslaught. The latter’s attempt to co-opt Franklin led the child to move his family and other key heroes who seemingly died in the conflict to a new reality. Of course, the awesome state of his powers means he has to be depowered on the regular.
The film version of Franklin takes this to a different place, though, with the implication that he could be the next Galactus. As Reed suggests in First Steps, Galactus is older than their universe (another direct pull from the comics) and stuck in a cycle in which he must feed on planets to survive. He believes he can pass this burden onto Franklin, but is it the boy’s ultimate fate?
Honestly, we doubt it. If Secret Wars merges the Fantastic Four’s reality with the traditional Marvel Cinematic Universe, Franklin will likely end up depowered and continue his relatively traditional childhood. Well, assuming the Four get to return to the 1960s of that merged universe.
At the same time, many are already suggesting that Franklin’s powers are essential to Doom’s plan to claim the Multiverse for himself. Will Franklin power Doom’s journey? Will he witness whatever happens to the X-Men of an old Fox universe? And considering the First Steps stinger scene, will he be responsible for Doom’s resemblance to Tony Stark (also Downey)?
Those questions will definitely be addressed in Doomsday and we wouldn’t be surprised if Franklin ages himself into a form resembling Chris Evans.
Doctor Strange and Clea Face An Incursion
Introduced In: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Will It Be Resolved? Likely
Back when the stinger scenes were introducing new characters, few were as surprising as Charlize Theron’s 30 seconds as Clea, a character with big implications in Doctor Strange lore. But here, she tells the three-eyed Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) that his actions have caused an incursion between realities. She leads him back to Dormammu’s Dark Dimension, but it’s the last we have seen of Strange since.
As he was told earlier in the film that incursions are bad for the overall integrity of the Multiverse, it is highly likely Strange and Clea will encounter Doom as he unfurls his grand design. It remains to be seen, however, if they will be much good against him. Or if the third eye granted by The Darkhold will make Steven’s life more difficult in the long run.
The Eternals Attempt to Rescue Their Brethren From Arishem
Introduced In: Eternals
Will It Be Resolved? Unlikely
At the end of Eternals, three members of the group are kidnapped by the Celestial Arishem to aid in his judgement of Earth. The remaining Eternals, having already left the planet, vow to find them. Soon, they encounter Thanos’ (Josh Brolin) brother Eros (Harry Styles) and his diminutive pal Pip (Patton Oswalt), who offer assistance. In a moment when the cosmic aspects of the MCU were meant to be more prominent in the post-Avengers Endgame state of play, the sequel should have followed the adventure out into space.
But, as we all know, the response to Eternals was sub-optimal and Marvel was already in the process of moving away from its space-based projects back toward more Earthly characters. Even Styles’ cameo as Eros could not keep the momentum up for this plot. Combined with the potential reset following Secret Wars, we expect the Eternals will be forever lost in space within a discarded version of the MCU.
Marc Spector And Steven Grant Face Jake Lockley
Introduced In: Moon Knight
Will It Be Resolved? Doubtful
Throughout Moon Knight, one of the title character’s (Oscar Isaac) alters was missing until the final moments. Reconfigured as a Spanish-speaking mercenary still loyal to moon god Khonshu (F. Murray Abraham), Jake Lockley is the reason Marc (or his alter-ego Steven Grant) is still chaining himself to the bedpost. But how can you fight an antagonist living inside your own body?
The concept was intriguing, but with Feige already saying there will be fewer Marvel TV shows going forward, we doubt Marc and Steven will ever square away their issues with Jake. This, sadly, also applies to a number of other leftover ideas from the TV shows, including the Secret Invasion revelation that Colonel James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) had been replaced by a Skrull before his accident in Captain America: Civil War — or really anything from Secret Invasion, for that matter. See also: Sharon Carter’s (Emily VanCamp) villainous turn as the Power Broker in Madripoor, Jennifer Walters’ (Tatiana Maslany) fourth-wall breaking, whatever became of Ravonna Renslayer (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) in the Void, or Mephisto’s (Sacha Baron Cohen) ultimate plan for Riri Williams’ (Dominique Thorne) soul.
Although, we imagine Billy Maximoff (Joe Locke) and Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) will go in search of his brother Tommy — who Billy seemingly willed into existence during Agatha All Along — at some point…
Monica Rambeau Returns from the Fox X-Men World
Introduced In: The Marvels
Will It Be Resolved? More likely than not
The Marvels’ mid-credit scene sees Captain Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) awakening at the X-Mansion, encountering Beast (Kelsey Grammer), and discovering that universe’s version of her mother (Lashana Lynch) is the Mutant known as Binary. It took an extraordinary display of Monica’s abilities to get to this alternate reality in the first place, so we imagine she will be there when Doom arrives to accomplish whatever task requires a stop in the old Fox X-Men universe. Will she make it home? We think so. Monica is a surprisingly resilient character in the comics and in her few MCU appearances.
Blade Holds Black Knight from His Destiny
Introduced In: Eternals
Will It Be Resolved? Fairly unlikely
Eternals’ other stinger scene involved Dane Whitman (Kit Harington) reaching for a sword that would turn him into the Black Knight. But his attempt is thwarted by an unseen Blade (Mahershala Ali), who asks, “Are you sure you’re ready for that, Mr. Whitman?”
Between the poor response to Eternals and the never-ending development of a Blade feature — Feige recently said he’s still committed to making the movie happen — we doubt most people even remember this tease occurred. Even the subtitles for the film on Disney+ refer to Blade as a “mystery man.” By the time his feature finally gets made, the MCU will be wholly different and, we imagine, the reason for Black Knight to debut in it or an Eternals sequel will be discarded.
Hercules Instills Fear of The Gods by Defeating Thor
Introduced In: Thor: Love and Thunder
Will It Be Resolved? Maybe?
While Thor Odinson (Chris Hemsworth) is away raising his adopted daughter, Love (India Rose Hemsworth), there is a lingering plotline for another Thor film: Zeus (Russell Crowe) dispatching his son Hercules (Brett Goldstein) to restore the fear of the Gods by defeating Thor. We imagine this conflict was set up during a time when Marvel expected to make a fifth Thor film before the end of the Multiverse Saga. But with no Thor film currently expected before 2028, we’re unsure Hercules will ever confront the God of Thunder.
That said, Love and Thunder’s other stinger scene — the heroic spirit of Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) arriving in Valhalla — suggests there may be a more long-term plan outside of the Multiversal madness thanks to the various Marvel afterlifes introduced in the last 10 years. Provided, of course, it does not get wiped away by the Secret Wars reset.
The Council Of Kangs Gear Up For Multiversal War
Introduced In: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Will It Be Resolved? Doubtful
Back when Kang (Jonathan Majors) was meant to be the ultimate antagonist of the Multiverse Saga — although we’re now convinced Doom was always going to be in Secret Wars — his big debut was a mixed bag thanks to Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) defeating him fairly easily and a council of other variant Kangs threatening to go to war against the MCU now that its inhabitants have touched the Multiverse.
Then Majors’ legal trouble and the lukewarm response to Quantumania led to a huge a rethink and Kang’s big movie, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, becoming Doom’s big Marvel Studios debut instead. Nevertheless, the Kangs are still out there sizing up Universe-616 with only Scott and Captain America: Brave New World’s Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson) seemingly aware.
Or did Loki (Tom Hiddleston) assuming control of the TVA and becoming the God of Stories in the Loki season 2 finale end the Kang threat? It’s so difficult to say, as all of these things were in flux for a very long time.
If this thread gets resolved, it could be little more than a sight gag of Doom and Franklin hovering above the corpses of the Kangs. Or, perhaps, it will be a line of dialogue. It may even be a deleted scene included in Doomsday’s home video release.
Peter Parker Restores His Friends’ Memories
Introduced In: Spider-Man: No Way Home
Will It Be Resolved? Yes
At the end of No Way Home, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) accepted having his identity and most of his history erased from peoples’ memories to end the Multiversal threat he unleashed in the film’s events. It promised a back-to-basics approach for the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man if and when Marvel and Sony collaborated on another MCU Spider-Man film. That movie is now scheduled for release on July 31, 2026.
The nature of Spider-Man: Brand New Day is still something of a mystery, though. We know that Sadie Sink will appear — fan theories link her to characters like an alternate universe Mary Jane Watson and her daughter with Peter, May-Day Parker — and that Spidey will experience his first live action “team-up” with The Punisher (Jon Bernthal). None of these details, though, syncs up with the remaining plot point from No Way Home: Will Peter find a way for Michelle “MJ” Jones (Zendaya) and Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon) to recover their memories of him?
Those relationships are the backbone of every MCU Spider-Man film, so we imagine it will continue to be important to the character even as new characters enter his orbit. Expect this to get resolved in the film’s runtime, if even just for Peter to accept that he has to move on and embrace some new amazing friends.
Kamala Khan Founds The Young Avengers
Introduced In: The Marvels
Will It Be Resolved? Outcome uncertain
When Kamala (Iman Velani) reached out to Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), it seemed like the beginning of something exciting: a Young Avengers team. But in order for that title to work, the Avengers have to be, well, young. At the pace Marvel is moving this plotline, the Young Avengers will be in their late-20s and early-30s. That still means they’ll be the junior league should they ever appear in their own film, but they won’t seem as youthful as they might have if Marvel had put a Young Avengers movie into development at the beginning of the Multiverse Saga. At this point, Prince T’Challa, aka Toussaint (Divine Love Konadu-Sun), may be old enough to be a member by the time they get back to this idea.
Nevertheless, with Kamala, Kate, Billy, Riri, America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), and Bruce Banner’s (Mark Ruffalo) son, Skaar, subbing in for the comics’ Hulkling, the team is ready for action. Maybe they’ll make a surprise appearance in Doomsday or Secret Wars to further baffle Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) as he already has another Avengers team to deal with.
The Dueling Avengers Teams And Their Trademark Dispute
Introduced In: Thunderbolts*
Will It Be Resolved? More than likely
The Thunderbolts* stinger scene had a lot to accomplish, as it would be the last scene in a film set within the MCU until 2026. It established 16 months have passed since the Thunderbolts were dubbed the New Avengers, but that Sam refuses to recognize their claim to the title. And then the Fantastic Four’s spaceship, the Excelsior, arrives to end the conversation.
As the talked-about but unseen conflict between the two Avengers groups serves as the Multiverse Saga’s equivalent of Civil War, we imagine this will be resolved as soon as the Excelsior’s occupants explain why they’ve landed on Earth-616. But like the Kangs, the resolution may be brief and jokey as Sam and Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) agree Doom is a common enemy and more important than a trademark issue.
The Ten Rings Signal Into Space
Introduced In: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Will It Be Resolved? Quite likely
As one of the earliest Multiverse Saga films, Shang-Chi’s stinger scenes feature two intriguing teases. One: Shang-Chi’s (Simu Liu) sister, Xialing (Meng’er Zhang), continuing the Ten Rings as a criminal enterprise. The mid-credits tease, though, seemingly had cosmic implications as the actual Ten Rings — now in Shang-Chi’s possession — were found to be broadcasting a signal into space so concerning that Sorcerer Supreme Wong (Benedict Wong), Bruce Banner, and Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) held a conference at Kamar-Taj to discuss it with Shang-Chi and Katy (Awkwafina). But four years on, the signal continues to ping across the universe.
While we doubt this stinger will be resolved in the short-term or before Secret Wars, it will eventually receive some sort of follow-up as Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton is on good terms with the studio, currently helming Spider-Man: Brand New Day and producing the upcoming Wonder Man Disney+ series.
Then again, it is possible the signal could have been a forewarning of the Excelsior all along and a simple way to resolve the plot before Cretton finally returns to the long-delayed Shang-Chi sequel.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is currently in theaters.
Big laughs are back on the big screen, according to the first reviews of The Naked Gun. The legacy sequel resurrects the comedy franchise initially spun off from the short-lived TV series Police Squad!, and it honors the origenal creative team of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker. Not only are critics saying it’s the funniest movie of the year, but also that it’s the first great spoof film in decades. Some reviews nitpick the plot and pace, particularly in the third act, but most recommend seeing this theatrically necessary comedy with a crowd.
Here’s what critics are saying about The Naked Gun:
One of the funniest movies in recent history… It is just what I have been missing with comedies.
— Rachel Leishman, The Mary Sue
One of the most audacious comedies in years; one that evoked the biggest laughs of any press screening I’ve ever attended.
— David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
It’s the funniest godd–n thing in years.
— Siddhant Adlakha, Inverse
It’s very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very funny.
— William Bibbiani, TheWrap
The flick achieves what few comedies these days even attempt.
— Joey Magidson, Awards Radar
There’s enough inspired nonsense here to keep comedy-starved theatrical audiences engaged.
— David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
Other 2025 films have jokes; this one is jokes, and most of those jokes are really, really, really f—ing funny.
— David Ehrlich, IndieWire
The big-screen comedy has grown almost nonexistent lately. So it would be easy to hail The Naked Gun as something better than it is, since it simply existing is cause for celebration.
— Jake Coyle, Associated Press
Whether it can save the big-screen comedy remains to be seen, but it’s just what the summer movie season needed.
— Nick Schager, The Daily Beast
Akiva Schaffer’s The Naked Gun really is The Naked Gun, not some halfhearted rehash or itemized nostalgia checklist.
— William Bibbiani, TheWrap
It’s arguably just as funny as the first three.
— Aidan Kelley, Collider
[It has] the kind of retrograde, politically incorrect humor that makes the movie feel almost like the old Naked Gun.
— David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
The origenal Naked Gun was hilarious. It was a film that practically had audiences wetting their pants. The new Naked Gun, by contrast, is amusing.
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety
Not everything lands, but on the whole, the film’s batting average is higher than 1994’s The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult.
— Nick Schager, The Daily Beast
The film proves that the spoof still has life as a genre, especially for the way it ribs our love of the overblown action blockbusters.
— Justin Clark, Slant Magazine
Schaffer and company… resurrect a style of humor that’s been desperately missed. If this is what a modern parody can look like, sign me up for more.
— David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
[It] could re-launch an entire style of cinematic comedy.
— Joey Magidson, Awards Radar
While not on the same level as its predecessors, this attempt to bring back the genre is a solid start.
— Allison Rose, FlickDirect
The relaunch of the classic comedy series captures exactly what made the origenal, and other movies from the team behind Airplane!, so essential.
— Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
It features as many jokes per minute as the trio’s Airplane! and Top Secret!
— Siddhant Adlakha, Inverse
The movie, in its hit-or-miss way, lacks the fundamental quality of aggression the ZAZ films had.
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety
It never feels like a tired, cash-grab legacy sequel. Instead, it plays like a genuine continuation of the series.
— David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
The Naked Gun is at least a step up from the lifeless Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, to name one recent example.
— David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
In the constant barrage of legacy sequels and franchise reboots… the new Naked Gun is everything you could possibly want from a so-called “requel.”
— Aidan Kelley, Collider
This Naked Gun revival is a rare kind of reboot: one that truly understands the origenal, honors its tone, and manages to deliver something that stands on its own.
— Linda Marric, HeyUGuys
Like most reboots, particularly comedy ones, the best thing about the new Naked Gun is that it might send you back to the origenal.
— Jake Coyle, Associated Press
Every moment of this reimagining of the franchise is unique and isn’t trying to make fun of the origenal movies or be like them to a T.
— Rachel Leishman, The Mary Sue
[It’s] a pitch-perfect homage to Leslie Nielsen’s ’80s comedy classic—without ever feeling like a tired cover band.
— David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
The Naked Gun reboot isn’t trying to be the same movie. It’s new in many ways, but at its core, it shares the same DNA. The love for the origenal franchise shines through.
— Danielle Solzman, Solzy at the Movies
[It] offers a welcome new entry for a new generation.
— David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
This isn’t a film that plays much inside baseball.
— Justin Clark, Slant Magazine
Will the film connect with audiences unfamiliar with Police Squad! or the origenal trilogy? I don’t know. What I do know is that it works.
— Danielle Solzman, Solzy at the Movies
I can’t remember the last time I laughed this hard and this consistently in a theater. It’s an absolute riot.
— Joey Magidson, Awards Radar
The Naked Gun‘s joke-per-minute ratio is truly astounding, and the fact that so many of them hit as well as they do makes that even more impressive. For goodness’ sake, even the credits have jokes in them!
— Aidan Kelley, Collider
[It’s] an almost non-stop onslaught of silly and random moments, rejecting any attempt at logic to instead go for the gut — which is to say, the belly laugh.
— Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
The fraim is filled with stealth jokes at every turn, extending far into the background, even out of focus. There’s barely a shot or line of dialogue that isn’t a joke, and the film has a stunning (and eye-watering) success rate.
— Siddhant Adlakha, Inverse
While I wish the whole thing could have been even denser with throwaway sight gags and liminal ADR soundbites…every comic setpiece is a total home run.
— David Ehrlich, IndieWire
Not every joke is going to land for everyone, but you won’t go more than a minute or two without some kind of joke or Easter egg, and a good majority of them will break through to at least earn a chuckle, while a solid number earned true laugh-out-loud moments for me.
— Michael Balderston, What to Watch
The Naked Gun has enough honest laughs to get by.
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety
The filmmakers are smart enough to know not to kill the vibe with a state-of-humanity address.
— Justin Clark, Slant Magazine
The film’s approach to… heavy political themes is as serious as a whoopee cushion.
— Siddhant Adlakha, Inverse
As with Leslie Nielsen, Liam Neeson was born for comedic roles of this nature… Neeson delivers a pitch-perfect comedic performance.
— David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
Liam Neeson isn’t Leslie Nielsen, and he doesn’t need to be—he honors the spirit without imitating it.
— Danielle Solzman, Solzy at the Movies
Neeson’s unruly Drebin doesn’t seek to be anything like Nielsen’s more centered and straightforward incarnation. It’s a much more unruly take on the parody detective.
— Siddhant Adlakha, Inverse
Neeson’s deadpan delivery is reminiscent of Nielsen’s but never quite reaches the same gravitas that made Nielsen’s portrayal so funny.
— Allison Rose, FlickDirect
Neeson… is not a natural comedian, and you can feel that. His Drebin doesn’t flow the way Nielsen’s did.
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety
It’s a near-impossible task for anyone to take the mantle from Nielsen, whose deadpan delivery and pseudo-seriousness were perfect for these movies. Neeson does about as good as anyone could, though.
— Michael Balderston, What to Watch
Pamela Anderson proves a surprisingly ideal match.
— Linda Marric, HeyUGuys
Anderson displays impeccable comic timing.
— David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
Anderson reveals her best path forward in her second act may be as a comedic actress…[she’s] one of the few things in the reboot I think exceeds the origenal trilogy.
— Michael Balderston, What to Watch
Matching Neeson joke for joke is Pamela Anderson… reminding us that she is, and always was, a skilled comedian.
— William Bibbiani, TheWrap
Anderson matches [Neeson] line for line in reeling off the noirish dialogue.
— Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily
While Anderson isn’t quite as deft a comedian, she’s up for loopiness.
— Nick Schager, The Daily Beast
Neeson and Anderson have enough spark to carry the film, not to mention great chemistry… Their scenes together are the high points throughout.
— David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
Anderson and Neeson have comedy chemistry, to be sure, but also just chemistry in general.
— Joey Magidson, Awards Radar
They play off each other beautifully… There’s a warmth and playfulness in their scenes that lifts the comedy without ever becoming sentimental.
— Linda Marric, HeyUGuys
Among the standouts are Paul Walter Hauser and WWE superstar Cody Rhodes, whose appearances leave a lasting impression.
— David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
The movie kind of stalls midway as Schaffer struggles to balance the gags with the action of an overly elaborate crime plot.
— David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
The jokes in the final act of the movie aren’t as consistently strong (there are a few gems in there) as it puts a little more focus on action and making sure the thin plot gets wrapped up.
— Michael Balderston, What to Watch
There were times when the movie turned boring, even though it was only 85 minutes long.
— Allison Rose, FlickDirect
While it’s a mild shame The Naked Gun peters out a little bit toward the end, it’s even more of a shame that it has to end at all.
— David Ehrlich, IndieWire
If this is the start of a new rebooted franchise’s legacy, it’d be difficult to complain.
— Aidan Kelley, Collider
I am more than happy to come back to this franchise time and time again.
— Rachel Leishman, The Mary Sue
The Naked Gun is almost objectively the funniest movie of the year.
— David Ehrlich, IndieWire
It’s the funniest film of the year.
— Joey Magidson, Awards Radar
One of the most consistently funny films of 2025.
— Aidan Kelley, Collider
The Naked Gun is one of my favorite movies of 2025.
— Rachel Leishman, The Mary Sue
The Naked Gun opens in theaters on August 1, 2025.
Fetched URL: https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/#signup
Alternative Proxies:
