Premiering at Sundance, Cathy Yan’s ‘The Gallerist’ stars Natalie Portman as a Miami gallerist who turns an accidental death into conceptual art during Art Basel. Jenna Ortega, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Catherine Zeta-Jones round out a stacked cast in a stylish satire that’s more frantic than razor-sharp — but still a bold, entertaining swing.

Aidan Zamiri’s ‘The Moment’ follows Charli xcx in the aftermath of ‘Brat’ as fame, branding, and creative control collide. Charli is magnetic and the satire lands in flashes, but the film struggles to choose between sharp comedy and self-mythology — making it feel more like fan-only supplemental material.

Rachel Lambert’s ‘Carousel’ finds its footing after a shaky, over-scored start, evolving into an intimate and emotionally precise drama. Chris Pine and Jenny Slate bring depth and restraint to a story about loneliness, risk, and second chances, with Abby Ryder Fortson delivering a standout supporting performance.

HBO Max’s The Pitt returns for a gripping second season that balances chaos, compassion, and realism. Noah Wyle anchors a sharper, more confident medical drama that remains one of TV’s most emotionally grounded series.

Netflix’s ‘His & Hers’ pairs Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal in a Southern-set murder mystery that promises perspective but delivers predictability. A review of why the William Oldroyd series falls flat.

James Cameron returns to Pandora with ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ delivering stunning visuals and a fierce new villain, but recycled conflicts and bloated mythology keep the third installment from reaching the heights of its predecessors.

Kate Winslet makes an assured directorial debut with Goodbye June, a deeply felt family drama led by Helen Mirren and an exceptional ensemble. Predictable but profoundly human, the Netflix film finds emotional truth in grief, restraint, and performance-driven storytelling.

A darker and more emotionally complex return, Stranger Things Season 5 delivers gripping character arcs and stunning set pieces. The Duffers push the series toward its endgame with confidence, clarity, and surprising emotional depth.

Michelle Pfeiffer shines in Oh. What. Fun., a heartfelt holiday dramedy celebrating the invisible labor of mothers. Warm, charming, and emotionally resonant, the film brings a fresh perspective to Christmas storytelling.

Timothée Chalamet delivers the strongest performance of his career in Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme, a fever-dream epic of mania, ambition, and American mythmaking. An electrifying A24 drama filled with visionary filmmaking, explosive tension, and a career-defining turn from Chalamet — a major awards-season contender.

Jessie Buckley gives a career-defining performance in Chloé Zhao’s ‘Hamnet,’ a devastating, beautifully crafted portrait of grief, memory, and love. A major awards contender and one of 2026’s most powerful films.

‘Wicked: For Good’ closes Jon M. Chu’s two-part musical with a moodier tone, patient pacing, and a finale that rewards the wait. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande guide Oz toward an emotional, rousing conclusion that brings the Elphaba-Glinda story full circle.

Prime Video’s Playdate pairs Alan Ritchson and Kevin James for a fast, chaotic action-comedy that leans into big personalities and bigger set pieces. It’s not prestige filmmaking, but the leads keep it entertaining from start to finish. A fun, easy watch built on chemistry, charm and pure stream-at-home energy.

Netflix’s The Beast in Me is a gripping, slow-burn psychological thriller powered by outstanding performances from Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys. Tense, emotional, and character-driven, it recalls the prestige heyday of Homeland while carving out its own dark, addictive identity.

Edgar Wright’s The Running Man reimagines Stephen King’s dystopian classic for a new generation — with Glen Powell delivering a star-making performance in a blood-soaked, adrenaline-fueled action epic that reclaims the power of the theatrical experience.

Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia reimagines the Korean cult classic Save the Green Planet! as a darkly comic eco-satire about conspiracy, control, and extinction. Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons deliver electric performances in a film that’s both absurdly funny and deeply unsettling.

Politics, ego, and madness collide in Death by Lightning, a stunningly acted retelling of Garfield’s assassination that plays like a slow-motion tragedy for a country addicted to power. Macfadyen is the performance of the year, his Guiteau both pathetic and magnetic, while Shannon turns Garfield into a tragic monument of integrity. If history repeats itself, this one makes you wish it wouldn’t.

Edward Berger’s Ballad of a Small Player dazzles with visual style but struggles with soul. Colin Farrell delivers a haunting performance as a gambler chasing salvation in Macau’s neon purgatory, joined by Fala Chen and Tilda Swinton in a stylish yet hollow morality play.

Apple TV’s The Last Frontier turns a gripping premise — convicts loose in Alaska — into a haunting meditation on survival and morality. Jason Clarke leads a strong cast in a slow, patient thriller that finds beauty and conscience in the cold.

Netflix’s Nobody Wants This returns with less spark but more sincerity. Kristen Bell and Adam Brody remain charming in this funny, heartfelt look at love, faith, and commitment. A thoughtful, if uneven, follow-up that proves belief and chemistry are still worth watching.

Critics called it alarmist, but Kathryn Bigelow’s A House of Dynamite is a daring and necessary work of modern cinema. Far from exploitation, her nuclear thriller channels tension and truth into moral reflection. With Rebecca Ferguson and Jared Harris commanding the screen, Bigelow proves fear can be art — and that art can still provoke courage.

Bradley Cooper’s Is This Thing On? closes the New York Film Festival with warmth, humor, and humanity. Starring Will Arnett and Laura Dern, this tender, funny film explores love’s second act through stand-up, self-reflection, and the art of moving forward.

Timothée Chalamet delivers a “career-best” performance in Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme, which premiered as a surprise at NYFF63. The $70M A24 film — directed and edited by Safdie, who completed the final cut at 2 a.m. the day of the screening — drew raves for its energy, style, and New York spirit ahead of its Dec. 25 release.

Daniel Day-Lewis makes a powerful return in Anemone, a haunting father-son collaboration with his son Ronan Day-Lewis. A visually stunning, emotionally bruising portrait of guilt, violence, and forgiveness that cements the Day-Lewis legacy across generations.