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Film

Cinema isn’t just about the latest Disney/Pixar project or Star Wars spin-off. Memorable storytelling is happening all over the film industry, from Hollywood’s box-office-busting superhero smashes to small, innovative indie experiments. The Verge’s film section is here to help you sort through the latest Hollywood news and reviews, from favorite genres like sci-fi, fantasy, and horror to the independent movies that matter.

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Charles Pulliam-Moore
Get in the new robot, Shinji.

A new Evangelion anime series directed by Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX’s Kazuya Tsurumaki and written by NieR creator Yoko Taro is in the works. So far, no other details about the project have been announced.

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Charles Pulliam-Moore
Disney wouldn’t let Tony Gilroy say “fascism.”

Now that Andor has come to end, series creator Tony Gilroy is free to speak more openly about what it was like working for Disney, and in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter he says that the studio was very insistent on him not using the word “fascism” while talking about his show focused on fighting fascism.

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Charles Pulliam-Moore
I Am Frankelda is coming to Netflix

I Am Frankelda co-writer / directors Arturo and Roy Ambriz’s stop motion dark fantasy film about a girl with a strange connection to another dimension — has been acquired by Netflix and is slated to debut on the streamer sometime later this year.

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Charles Pulliam-Moore
The Gorillaz are going back to the mountain.

Ahead of the debut of The Gorillaz’s new album The Mountain, the animated band has dropped a teaser video that makes it seem like there might also be a short film situation on the way.

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Andrew Webster
A closer look at Toy Story’s evil tablet.

We already knew that the threat in Toy Story 5 would be a fresh piece of technology voiced by Greta Lee, and the latest trailer shows a bit more of the adorably creepy Lilypad, which is “always listening.” I guess I know what fictional gadget I’m reviewing next.

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Charles Pulliam-Moore
Put a hat on that baby.

The latest trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu really highlights how very, very young Grogu still is for one of Yoda’s species, which makes it seem that much more absurd that Din Djarin still hasn’t found his son a helmet to protect that (presumably) soft head.

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die is a rollicking parable about this moment in tech

Gore Verbinski’s latest film gets at the heart of everything that makes society feel poisoned about the big push for AI.

Charles Pulliam-Moore
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Jay Peters
Jason Momoa will star in Sony’s Helldivers movie.

The film is set to debut on November 10th, 2027, with Justin Lin directing, Deadline reports. Momoa is also starring in October’s Street Fighter movie and was part of the cast of A Minecraft Movie, which is getting a sequel in July 2027.

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Stevie Bonifield
The Mummy 4 lands its official release date for May 19, 2028.

The Mummy franchise will rise from its tomb 29 years after the 1999 original starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz arrived in theaters, Variety reports. Fraser and Weisz will be reuniting for The Mummy 4, along with producer Sean Daniel, but the film’s plot remains a mystery.

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Terrence O'Brien
A space crab made of rocks would die for Ryan Gosling in the final Project Hail Mary trailer.

The adaptation of Andy Weir’s best-selling novel is hitting theaters on March 20th. But, before that, we’re getting our clearest look yet at Rocky, the alien that befriends Gosling’s Ryland Grace. This trailer really ramps up the drama and… wait, why is Grace teaching Rocky to dance?

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Terrence O'Brien
MST3K is coming back. Again.

Instead of Jonah Ray, Mike Nelson (from the show’s original run) will be donning the jumpsuit. Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett will also be reprising their roles as Servo and Crow. The focus of MST3K: The RiffTrax Experiments will be on “classic bad” movies and it’s already blown past its Kickstarter goal.

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Charles Pulliam-Moore
It’s time to go to Jupiter.

Now that Boys Go to Jupiter is streaming on HBO Max, you should check out our interview with writer / director Julian Glander about the movie and why he feels that open-source software programs like Blender are doing way more to “democratize” art than generative AI.

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Andrew Webster
Just follow the rules.

Earlier this week Neon confirmed that the live-action adaptation of Exit 8 would hit theaters in April, and now we have a new trailer that shows off its creepy world and very strict set of rules.

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Andrew Liszewski
This 830-piece Project Hail Mary set comes with our first Ryan Gosling Lego figure.

It seems fitting that the latest film from the directors of 2014’s The Lego Movie is also getting its own set. Available for preorder today for $99.99 and shipping on March 1st, Lego’s Project Hail Mary set features a spaceship with a rotating crew module and minifigure versions of Ryland Grace (Gosling) and the alien Rocky.

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<em>The set’s display stand features a crank that rotates the spaceship’s crew module, simulating its centrifugal gravity system.</em>
<em>The two minifigures include Gosling’s character Ryland Grace in a spacesuit.</em>
<em>The set stands 12-inches tall when assembled.</em>
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The set’s display stand features a crank that rotates the spaceship’s crew module, simulating its centrifugal gravity system.
Image: Lego
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Charles Pulliam-Moore
Hold for Undertone.

The latest trailer for A24’s podcast-focused horror film Undertone is big on unsettling vibes, but the cascade of creepy recordings driving its main character to her wits’ end make it seem like she just needs to log off and get out of the house a little more.

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Andrew Webster
Exit 8 in April.

After making the festival rounds last year, Exit 8 — an adaptation of the cult hit horror game — is finally hitting theaters in the US on April 10th. In the meantime, check out my interview with director Genki Kawamura, who said his goal was “to create a new cinematic experience that blurs the lines between video game and cinema.”

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Terrence O'Brien
Looks like Melania is getting reverse review bombed on Rotten Tomatoes.

Sorry if we don’t believe your “theater was sold out and erupted in applause and cheers.” Wired reviewed 1,398 Melania showings on Fandango and found only two were sold out. Critics’ scores are in the toilet. But we’re expected to believe that with over 100 “verified ratings,” it’s got a 98 percent on the Popcornmeter? Sure.

The small film that answers the big questions

Director Hlynur Pálmason wanted to make a new family film. So in The Love That Remains, he featured some of his own.

Robyn Kanner
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Andrew Webster
Ch-Ch-Ch... Chia?

IP-licensing is truly out of control, as the film and TV rights for the terracotta pets that were popular in the ‘80s have now been acquired. What’s next, a movie based on The Clapper?

Send Help is an ode to every worker who has had a bad boss

Depending on how you look at it, Sam Raimi’s new horror-thriller can be a nightmare or a dream come true.

Charles Pulliam-Moore
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Charles Pulliam-Moore
Steal her look.

The only thing that might have made the new easer trailer for writer / director Boots Riley’s upcoming movie I Love Boosters even better would be a surprise guest appearance from Winona Rider decked out in Marc Jacobs. The film hits theaters on May 22nd.

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Terrence O'Brien
Here’s Tim Cook hanging out with accused rapist Brett Ratner at the Melania screening.

When you’re cool with doing a fascism, what’s a few sexual misconduct accusations? Ratner, who directed Melania, faced multiple allegations of sexual assault and harassment, which led Warner Bros. to cut ties. But a little sexual misconduct (and ties to Epstein) never seemed to bother Melania. And it doesn’t seem to bother Tim Cook either, who posed for this photo on Ratner’s Instagram Stories.

Apple CEO Tim Cook standing with the disgraced director of Melania Brett Ratner.
Image: Brett Ratner
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Terrence O'Brien
Chris Pratt suggested he play opposite an AI actor in Mercy but was shot down.

Not everyone in Hollywood can be as thoughtful about AI as Ben Affleck. Thankfully, better thinking prevailed, and Chris Pratt quickly decided that creating an actual AI to play the tyrannical AI judge in the sci-fi thriller was not a good idea.

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Terrence O'Brien
New Super Mario Galaxy trailer gives us our first look at Yoshi.

There’s a bunch of references to the games, including Mario and Luigi using fire flowers and Birdo from Super Mario Bros. 2, but it’s Yoshi that’s the obvious star. Oh, and he’s pretty dang cute, too. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is coming to theaters April 1st.

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Andrew Webster
It’s a me, your weekend plans.

What better way to spend Sunday morning than with a fresh Super Mario Galaxy movie trailer. Nintendo is streaming its next Direct showcase for the sequel on January 25th at 9AM ET. Hopefully the talking flower will make an appearance. For a refresher, here’s the most recent look.

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Charles Pulliam-Moore
A Darth Maul redemption arc?

While the new trailer for Disney Plus’ Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord series doesn’t at all make the Sith Lord look like a heroic figure, it does suggest that meeting his new apprentice is going to reveal new things about his character when the show premieres on April 6th.

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Charles Pulliam-Moore
Who, exactly, is asking for more He-Man in 2026?

The new trailer for Amazon MGM’s live-action Masters of the Universe film starring Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man and Jared Leto as Skeletor raises a few questions, like, why does this exist? Who is it for? Will anyone actually see the movie when it hits theaters on June 5th?

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Charles Pulliam-Moore
Sinners is already breaking Oscars records.

With 16 Oscars nominations including Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Cinematography, Ryan Coogler’s Sinners has become the most nominated film in the awards show’s history — a record that was previously shared by All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land, which were each up for 14 golden statues.

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Charles Pulliam-Moore
All you need is to listen to this soundtrack.

All You Need Is Kill is a feast for the eyes, but the animated feature’s soundtrack is also an absolute knockout, and you can listen to it now on all the major streaming platforms.

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Charles Pulliam-Moore
Maul’s to the wall.

Ahead of debuting a trailer for its new Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord animated series tomorrow, Disney Plus has shared a short (and inky) teaser that makes it seem like the Sith Lord’s lightsaber is going to be seeing plenty of action.

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Jay Peters
Live-action Universal films are coming to Netflix “much sooner than expected.”

Originally, the live-action movies were going to come to Netflix starting in 2027, but What’s on Netflix reports that they’re appearing starting this year, beginning with Megan 2.0 on January 26th. The films still stream on Peacock first before jumping to Netflix.

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Terrence O'Brien
Matt Damon told Joe Rogan that Netflix wants movies to repeatedly explain the plot in dialogue because people are always on their phone.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck went on the Joe Rogan Experience to promote their new film The Rip, and ended up sharing some very depressing details about Netflix’s love of repeated exposition dumps and its approach to filmmaking in this age of constant distraction. As Variety reports:

“The standard way to make an action movie that we learned was, you usually have three set pieces. One in the first act, one in the second, one in the third,” Damon explained. “You spend most of your money on that one in the third act. That’s your finale. And now they’re like, ‘Can we get a big one in the first five minutes? We want people to stay. And it wouldn’t be terrible if you reiterated the plot three or four times in the dialogue because people are on their phones while they’re watching.’”