Movies Digest
Multi-Source Movie Roundup • Monday, 26 January 2026
Sundance 2026: ‘Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!’ is a Dancing Delight
There’s really no better way to bring more joy to life than dancing. No matter what, letting loose and moving your body always leads brings back the happiness and sends depression down the tubes. Here we have a film that understands this, embraces this, and dives fully into the idea that dancing can be healing. And boy am I glad that the 2026 Sundance Film Festival decided to premiere this because Sundance films with dancing in them are always my faves. Amid so many other films about anguish & death & overcoming loss, Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! is finally something unique and new and fresh within the overloaded grief subgenre. It’s bright and colorful and spunky and lewd and fun, and defies the usual “grief sucks and it will ruin you” tropes for something that is sad but still enjoyable as we watch Haru work her way back out of the depths of the darkness. And surprise, surprise – I loved this! Even with a few flaws, even with some pacing issues, it’s still a delight and I emerged from the screening full of joy, read to tell the world about how worthwhile it is. Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! is directed by filmmaker Josef Kubota Wladyka as his second feature film so far (after lots of TV work and the […]
Hello Yoshi! Another Fun ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ Teaser Trailer
“So some dinosaur just shows up and he’s now part of the group? Cool…” Universal Pictures + Illumination have debuted another fun teaser trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the animated sequel to the first epic The Super Mario Bros. Movie from 2023. This trailer introduces us to the animated Yoshi who joins the party. This next one lands in theaters April 2026 coming up in a few more months. This follow-up sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a continuation of this story with all the same characters – and tons of new ones. The original first NES game was called Super Mario Bros. (1986) with two sequels – later on in 2007 Nintendo released a game called Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie features the same co-directors from the first film back again. The main voice actors include Chris Pratt as Mario again, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek. And this also introduces Bowser Jr (voiced by Benny Safdie) who was seen in the first trailer last year. This is a very fun new trailer packed with all kinds of Mario hijinks and references, including the iconic frog suit in addition to Yoshi showing up. Enjoy. Here’s […]
Sundance 2026: Olivia Wilde’s New Film ‘The Invite’ is Honest & Funny
This is what happens when you invite your neighbors over and they reveal their secrets. Then you have to figure out how to respond and how it makes you feel. You can either laugh, or freak out, or get angry, or just shrug it off (good luck with that). But no matter what, you’ll never forget this encounter. That’s pretty much what happens in this fun new sex comedy film called The Invite – directed by actress Olivia Wilde as her third feature film she’s made so far. This new movie is a US remake of the Spanish film titled The People Upstairs (or Sentimental) written and directed by Cesc Gay. The short synopsis for that one sums up both films perfectly: two couples explore the complexities of modern day relationships. Wilde’s film is set in San Francisco and stars Seth Rogen & Olivia Wilde as a couple who experience one heck of an eye-opening evening when their upstairs neighbors come down for the evening and they end up chatting about life and romance and relationships and sex. It’s smart and funny and honest – an entertaining and worthwhile film. Olivia Wilde’s The Invite is a chamber piece drama with some full-on, laugh-out-loud humor and some deep cut truths about sex and how it disrupts & defines relationships. Set entirely […]
Sundance 2026: Beth de Araújo’s ‘Josephine’ is Awe-Inspiring Cinema
Wow wow wow. It’s still January and I’m already ready to drop my first full on 10/10 perfect review because this film deserves it. One of the best films of 2026 just premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival taking place in Park City, Utah. Josephine is the REAL deal. I’m blown away by this film. Awe-inspiring filmmaking about a topic that is incredibly hard to talk about. But this film will be talked about for years. I’m not even sure where to start with it, all I want to do is heap more superlatives & hyperbolic praise onto it. I want to grab everyone I see walking around the streets of Park City at the festival and tell them “you HAVE to see this!!” Watching films at Sundance for the last 20 years, this festival has premiered a number of provocative films about sexual assault, including the unforgettable The Tale at Sundance 2018 (which I still can never forget watching) and many documentaries. Josephine is the latest – inspired by a true story the filmmaker experienced herself when she was 8 years old, then writing & directing this film decades later. Written & directed by the massively talented filmmaker Beth de Araújo, Josephine is her second feature film after her debut Soft & Quiet in 2022. In the film, […]
Delightful Trailer for ‘The Muppet Show’ 2026 Special with Seth Rogen
“It’s always been a dream of mine to be here…” Disney+ has revealed the official trailer for their upcoming special event The Muppet Show, a one-off revival of the beloved classic Muppet series. It’ll be streaming worldwide on D+ in early February in just a few weeks. Disney has been bringing back the Muppets already with a few other spin-off series including The Muppets Mayhem rock series a few years back. Kermit, Miss Piggy and the beloved Muppets ensemble are returning with a brand-new special presentation for everyone to enjoy. Music, comedy, and a whole lot of chaos are bound to ensue when The Muppets once again take the stage of the original Muppet Theatre with very special guests – including Sabrina Carpenter and Maya Rudolph. This looks like it’ll be a blast! Especially with Seth Rogen hosting. He stated: “I’ve been working the better part of the last decade to try to bring my favorite show back… and it looks like I’m getting close.” Well, of course I’ve gotta watch this! It looks like exactly the kind of joy and good fun we all need right now. Here’s the official trailer (+ poster) for Disney+’s 2026 special event The Muppet Show, from YouTube: It’s time to raise the curtain on “The Muppet Show”, a highly-anticipated special event with a […]
Sundance 2026: Lubna Azabal Shines in ‘Hot Water’ Road Trip Movie
On the road again! Heading across the dusty plains of the United States, stopping at cowboy diners, talking about life & all its woes. It ain’t the Sundance Film Festival without a charming road trip film in the line-up. There’s always one (or two or three) every year at this iconic Americana festival – and for good reason, they’re usually some if the most enchnating and feel-good films in the selection. Sundance 2026’s stand out road trip film is titled Hot Water, a reference to a quote mentioned in the film about how time spent in hot water is not wasted time. Because we all need to take a break and relax in hot water from time to time. Along the journey across the US this mother & son duo stop at a few hot springs that an acquaintance brings them to at one point in the story. Hot Water is also a film about the immigrant experience in the US, but unlike so many other films about immigrants, it’s less of a tale about their struggles with being an immigrant and just another story about a family trying to reconnect and figure out just where they’re going at this point in life. Hot Water is written and directed by Syrian-American filmmaker Ramzi Bashour, making his first feature film. He […]
Pagan War Goddess Irish Horror Thriller ‘The Morrigan’ Official Trailer
“Nothing kills her. Perhaps we can kill the human host…” Cineverse has unveiled the official US trailer for an Irish horror film titled The Morrigan, set for a VOD release starting February in the US. An ambitious archaeologist protects her wayward daughter from the influence of the Pagan Goddess, called The Morrigan. This first premiered at the 2025 Galway Film Fleadh and also stopped by the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival last year. The initially follows an archaeologist specialising in Gaelic mythology who travels with her teenage daughter to a remote region of Ireland. The two are forced to fight for their lives as a vengeful Pagan War Goddess is released from her long-dead tomb. She must now fight to keep her teenage daughter from falling under the control of The Morrigan. Starring Saffron Burrows, James Cosmo, Toby Stephens, Art Parkinson, and Antonia Campbell-Hughes. Some creepy scenes in here and scary The Mummy-esque moments as she starts hunting everyone. Might be a freaky horror to catch this winter – check it out. Here’s the official trailer (+ poster) for Colum Eastwood’s horror film The Morrigan, from YouTube: On a remote Irish island, archaeologist Fiona unearths a burial casket containing a mummified figure, unleashing an ancient evil upon her team & her daughter. After being propositioned by Fiona’s boss, Lily is […]
Official US Trailer for ‘Can You Keep A Secret?’ UK Dark Comedy Series
“Don’t be silly. We’re just a bit complicated – like the Beckhams.” Paramount+ has revealed an official US trailer for a British dark comedy series called Can You Keep A Secret?, which originally debuted on BBC streaming earlier this month. It’s coming to the US on Paramount+ to watch starting in February. A retired couple, named Debbie & William Fendon, living in the West Country of England are presented with a unique criminal opportunity to claim life insurance when William is mistakenly declared to have died. Their son Harry is caught up in the drama, trying to hide the secret from his wife Neha, who is a local police officer. The story revolves around the Fendons’ attempts to figure out and stop whoever is blackmailing them for the money whilst hiding William, who has Parkinson’s Disease, from the public. Loosely based on the real-life John Darwin disappearance case from 2007. Can You Keep A Secret? is a UK sitcom featuring Dawn French, Mark Heap, Craig Roberts, and Mandip Gill. Early reviews say this series has “charm, wit and warmth enough to work as soothing balm rather than riotously fun fare.” Seems kooky enough – have a look. Here’s the official trailer (+ poster) for Paramount+’s series Can You Keep a Secret?, from YouTube: Domineering granny Debbie Fendon, a woman who […]
Sundance 2026: ‘The Last First: Winter K2’ Mountain Climbing Doc
Everyone in the mountain climbing community is intensely aware of the ominous danger of the mountain known as K2. Located in Pakistan, K2 is the second highest mountain in the world just after Mount Everest nearby in Nepal. It’s also known as the deadliest mountain in the world. From acclaimed doc director Amir Bar-Lev, The Last First: Winter K2 is a brand new mountain climbing documentary film premiering at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. It tells the story of the tragic 2020-2021 K2 climbing season, specifically about the events during the attempt to summit K2 in winter. It’s an insane endeavor. Climbing K2 during the calmer summer season is already dangerous enough, attempting in the winter is basically a death trap. Despite the risks, there are climbers who just had to try anyway, because it was the final no-one-had-done-it-yet victory left in the world of mountain climbing. Hence the “last first” mountain climbing achievement to pursue. But this pursuit left many people frozen to death. This documentary is ultimately about how the egos and obsessions within the mountain climbing community are ruining everything about the experience. If you’re a mountain geek like me, then you’re already familiar with K2. This is far from being the first movie made about this dangerous mountain – there have actually be quite a few […]
He’s Back! Teaser Trailer for ‘Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord’ Series
“We have all been made to suffer. We survive… but do not live.” Disney has unveiled an awesome first look teaser trailer for Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, a brand new animated series ready for streaming on Disney+ this spring. After the Clone Wars, Maul plots to rebuild his criminal syndicate on another planet untouched by the Empire. They’re bringing Darth Maul back as a main character! Finally! The iconic Sith Lord villain from The Phantom Menace movie gets his own spin-off series set after the “Clone Wars”. The voice cast is led by Sam Witwer — who also lent his voice to Maul in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and beyond — as Maul, Gideon Adlon as Devon Izara, Wagner Moura as Brander Lawson, and Richard Ayoade as Two-Boots. The series features stylized animation emblematic of the gritty new cityscape locale of Janix combined with old-school filmmaking methods to capture painterly brushstrokes on glass & other physical elements. Whoa, this looks totally badass! Seems to be another incredible new SW animated series to rave about! So far, so good – all of this footage definitely got my attention. Have a look. Here’s the first teaser trailer (+ poster) for Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord series, from YouTube: “Chains can be broken. Empires can be […]
Olga Kurylenko in Haunting Thriller ‘My Sister’s Bones’ Official Trailer
“Do you remember you used to think that house was haunted?” “I still do.” Quiver Distribution has revealed the trailer for an indie horror thriller film called My Sister’s Bones, which will be released directly onto VOD starting next week. This starts out like a drama but then reveals more unsettling sides, pretty clearly commentary on PTSD and grief and all the usual troubles. War correspondent Kate Rafter remains haunted by a horrific incident in Iraq and also her mother’s death. While packing up her mom’s belongings from her childhood home, she starts to suspect there’s something strange and terrifying happening in the house next door. But is it all just in her head? Or is it real? Starring Jenny Seagrove, Anna Friel, Olga Kurylenko, David Bradley, Ben Miles, Maggie Steed, and Lovi Poe. Despite an interesting premise this looks like a mostly forgettable indie psychological thriller with all the usual cliches about eerie happenings & trauma. Here’s the official trailer (+ poster) for Heidi Greensmith’s film My Sister’s Bones, direct from YouTube: Following their mother’s unexpected death, war correspondent Kate Rafter (Jenny Seagrove) along with her estranged alcoholic sister Sally are brought together in their family home in Herne Bay. Both sisters must reconcile their past trauma in order to uncover whether something sinister is happening next door. My […]
Epic First Trailer for ‘Masters of the Universe’ Movie Starring Galitzine
“I have the power!” He-Man is back! Amazon MGM Studios has unveiled the first teaser trailer for their epic new live-action Masters of the Universe movie, an 80s throwback come to life on the big screen all over again. Masters of the Universe is a toy franchise that was turned into an 80s animated TV show and a 1987 movie starring Dolph Lundgren as the uber buff hero. In this brand new updated reboot of Masters of the Universe, director Travis Knight brings the legendary franchise back in this epic live-action adventure. After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam back to Eternia where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor. To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela and Duncan/Man-At-Arms, and embrace his true destiny as He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe. The impressive ensemble cast features Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man / Adam Glenn, Camila Mendes as Teela, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, James Purefoy, Morena Baccarin, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Charlotte Riley, Kristen Wiig as Roboto, Jared Leto as Skeletor, and Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms. This almost looks more like a sci-fi movie with all the futuristic spaceships and fancy armor and everything else. I’m down. Hopefully it’s as entertaining […]
98th Academy Awards Nominations Announced – Full List for 2025
The complete list of nominees for the 98th Academy Awards, the most prestigious award in Hollywood, have been announced today (from Oscars.org). The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the nominees via live broadcast. The nominations from 2025 are, as expected, an exciting and confident collection of most of the best movies of the year. What a vibrant set of nominees! Ryan Coogler’s Sinners set a new record with a grand total of 16 nominations this year, topping La La Land and Titanic (which had 14). It looks like The Academy also fell hard for Sentimental Value, giving it a grand total of 9 nominations including Best Director. And the wonderful Train Dreams also ended up with plenty, but sadly they cut out The Testament of Ann Lee entirely with nothing. The Academy chose a total of ten Best Picture nominees from 2025, including: Bugonia, F1, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, Sinners, Train Dreams, and of course One Battle After Another (also my #1 of the year). Without further ado, view the list of all 2025 nominees below. The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will be on Sunday, March 15th at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood – broadcast live by ABC. This year’s ceremony will again be hosted by Conan O’Brien. Here are 2025’s noms: Picture: Bugonia F1 Frankenstein Hamnet Marty […]
Final Promo Trailer for Jason Statham’s ‘Shelter’ – In Theaters Soon
“Jason Statham lives his life the way that his characters are portrayed. He’s got that moral code, that integrity, that authenticity.” Black Bear Pictures has debuted one final promo trailer for the action movie Shelter directed by action filmmaker Ric Roman Waugh (who also has Greenland 2 this month as well). The return of January Statham! Still looks better than his last two: A Working Man and The Beekeeper. In this next one, Statham stars as the same character – an assassin hiding from his past. A recluse on a remote Scottish island rescues a girl from the sea, unleashing a perilous sequence of events that culminate in an attack on his home, compelling him to face his turbulent history. Forced out of isolation, he must confront his dangerous past while protecting her, sending them on a tense journey of survival and redemption all the way down to London. Starring Jason Statham, Naomi Ackie, Bill Nighy, Tom Wu, and Bodhi Rae Breathnach. Shelter looks solid enough to actually go watch in theaters – even if it just more of the same tough-guy-takes-out-everyone-coming-for-him action. Check out the final look below and grab your tickets. Here’s the final trailer (+ four posters) for Ric Roman Waugh’s action movie Shelter, direct from YouTube: You can rewatch the main official trailer for Ric Roman […]
Fun Trailer for Nastasya Popov’s ‘Idiotka’ Fashion Design Comedy Film
“Let’s take a look, shall we?” Utopia has unveiled an official trailer for the kooky comedy indie film titled Idiotka, which first premiered at last year’s SXSW Film Festival. After playing at a bunch of other fests in 2025, it’s now set for a limited release starting in February 2026 coming up soon this winter. Directed and written by Nastasya Popov, the film is anchored by a fun & vibrant cast led by Anna Baryshnikov, with Camila Mendes, Owen Thiele, Benito Skinner, plus Saweetie & Julia Fox. It’s a spunky film serving as a satire about reality TV and celebrity, wrapped in a heartwarming, high fashion comedy that celebrates both family and identity. Set in West Hollywood’s Russian district, fashion designer Margarita lives out the American Dream: competing on a reality show with a big cash prize. Will she slay, serve, or survive? Find out on tonight’s episode of Idiotka! Described as wildly funny and strange and delightful. Have a fun time. Here’s the two official trailers (+ poster) for Nastasya Popov’s film Idiotka, direct from YouTube: In this sharp & irreverent comedy, a disgraced fashion designer sporting a dangerously low credit score, Margarita (Anna Baryshnikov), enters a reality show featuring a six-figure cash prize in order to save her babushka’s West Hollywood apartment. But as the competition intensifies, slick […]
Motorbike on Mars in ‘For All Mankind’ Sci-Fi Series Season 5 Teaser
“Everything that’s happened has lead to this moment. You’re going to do things people can’t even fathom. It’s on you to make the next move…” Apple TV has unveiled a first look teaser for the latest Season 5 of the hit sci-fi series For All Mankind, which has been going strong since it first debuted in 2019. We haven’t been keeping up with this, but this quick teaser is quite spectacular: the very first Martian (played by Sean Kaufman) rides his motorbike across the dunes and takes a giant leap – for mankind. This season picks up in the years since the asteroid heist. Happy Valley on Mars has grown into a thriving colony with thousands of residents and a base for new missions. But with the nations of Earth now demanding law and order on the Red Planet, friction continues to build between the people who live on Mars and their former home. The ensemble cast returning for season five includes Joel Kinnaman, Toby Kebbell, Edi Gathegi, Cynthy Wu, Coral Peña, Wrenn Schmidt, with new regulars Mireille Enos, Costa Ronin, Sean Kaufman, Ruby Cruz, and Ines Asserson. The new episodes will arrive starting in March – keep an eye out for this. Here’s the first look teaser trailer for Apple TV’s series For All Mankind – Season 5, from […]
Dustin Hoffman & Leo Woodall in ‘Tuner’ Clever Heist Thriller Trailer
“Open the safe!” Black Bear has revealed the first trailer for the acclaimed indie movie Tuner, directed by documentary filmmaker Daniel Roher as his first narrative feature film (after Navalny, Blink, and others). This first premiered at the 2025 Telluride, Toronto, London Film Festivals last fall – and it’s playing next at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival beginning this week. Hence why this trailer is out now, even though the film isn’t set to open in theaters until May. In Tuner, Leo Woodall stars as a gifted young piano tuner whose heightened sense of hearing draws the attention of criminals, who see his talents as useful for opening safes as for tuning Steinways. A talented piano tuner’s meticulous skills for tuning pianos lead him to discover an unexpected aptitude for cracking safes, turning his life upside down. Blending romance, drama, and the taut suspense of a heist thriller, Tuner stars Dustin Hoffman, Havana Rose Liu, Tovah Feldshuh, Jean Reno, Lior Raz, in addition to Woodall. This looks like a slick, entertaining, upbeat thriller with a great cast. Definitely something that everyone might be into – a good crowd-pleaser. This trailer is worth a watch. Here’s the first official trailer for Daniel Roher’s film Tuner, direct from Black Bear’s YouTube: Leo Woodall stars as a gifted young piano tuner whose heightened […]
First Trailer for Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s ‘Kokurojo’ Feudal-Era Mystery Film
Shochiku has revealed a first look teaser trailer for Kokurojo, the latest film made by acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa. He already released his most recent film Cloud in theaters just last year and also filmed this. A gripping, large-scale psychological mystery set in the Warring States period, where the conflicting ambitions of various characters collide! A murder in the castle’s closed room and a series of bizarre incidents. The lord and his imprisoned genius strategist confront the mystery. Starring Masahiro Motoki, Masaki Suda, Yuriko Yoshitaka, Takashi Aoki, Ryota Miyadate, Tasuku Emoto, and Joe Odagiri. Set during the Feudal era in Japan, this is Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s very first period piece feature film. This looks like an intense and thrilling tale set in the past. Shochiku will give it a road tour release in Japan first this year and this will probably show up at other film festivals around the world later. Get a look below. Here’s the first look teaser trailer for Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s film Kokurojo, direct from YouTube (via TFS): Arakura Murashige (Masahiro Motoki) rebels against tyrannical methods of Oda Nobunaga and executes a siege strategy. The castle is surrounded by Oda forces, isolated and without aid. While restraining his impassioned retainers within the castle, Murashige struggles to protect the castle and its people, finding solace in his wife, […]
Mysterious Erotic Thriller ’56 Days’ Series Trailer with Dove Cameron
“He’s not who you think he is.” “Yes he is.” Prime Video has unveiled an official trailer for a murder mystery thriller series called 56 Days, out to watch starting in February. This is the ultimate made-for-audiences combo: a sexy erotic thriller combined with a murder mystery whodunit police investigation – cutting back and forth between both stories. Uh oh. “Every good love story needs a murder.” Um, does it? After a chance supermarket encounter, Oliver and Ciara embark upon an intense relationship. When a savagely murdered corpse surfaces 56 days later, the investigation delves into their turbulent love story, revealing grim secrets. The creators add: “Our sexy, propulsive thriller is closely based on the novel by Catherine Ryan Howard. However, our adaptation exchanges pandemic-era Dublin for present-day Boston. Please note, the series is not a COVID-related project and does not take place during the lockdown. We hope you enjoy the show!” 56 Days stars Dove Cameron, Avan Jogia, Karla Souza, Dorian Missick. This looks extra cliche and designed specifically to make people desire to watch but hey maybe there’s a good story somewhere in here. Here’s the official trailer (+ posters) for Karyn Usher & Lisa Zwerling’s series 56 Days, from YouTube: 56 Days follows Oliver and Ciara, who, after meeting randomly in a supermarket, fall for each other […]
Trailer for Real Time F1 Race ‘2DIE4’ IMAX Doc Following Felipe Nasr
“I have to get back to the wheel again… I know my life’s on the line.” IMAX & Abramorama has unveiled an official trailer for the incredible racing documentary called 2DIE4 (“To Die For”), another intense Formula 1 racing movie to watch this year after the thrilling F1 movie last year. Seven years in the making, 2DIE4is a first-of-its-kind racing film that redefines the genre through radical technical innovation and immersive, first-person storytelling. This is a new film shot during the 24-Hours of Le Mans, at race speed, with no reenactments. The doc follows the acclaimed Brazilian driver Felipe Nasr as he prepares for and competes in this 24 hour race. “We didn’t want to make a film about racing—we wanted to put audiences inside the race itself. Every creative decision was driven by one question: how do we make people feel what it’s like to be Felipe Nasr at 200 miles per hour? I think we’ve created something that’s never been seen before on an IMAX screen, and we can’t wait for audiences to experience it.” Yep actually this does look totally awesome. Definitely something to experience on the big screen if you have the chance. Will be jaw-dropping in IMAX. Here’s the official trailer (+ poster) for Salomão & André Abdala’s IMAX doc 2DIE4, direct from YouTube: “The […]