Happy Memorial Day weekend. It’s the unofficial start of summer, even though the weather doesn’t seem to cooperate. Hopefully, you have some time off and can stream some of the new movies that arrived last week, including Ladies First on Netflix and One Battle After Another on Prime Video.
It’s now the last weekend of May, so the list of new movies arriving on the major streaming services is a little light. However, there are two HBO Max movies that occupy our first and second spots. One is a new drama about grief starring an Oscar-winning actress, and the other is a mockumentary headlined by a top pop star. All five of these movies can be streamed in the U.S.
5
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
The underwater action comedy
It’s actually a shame what happened to the Aquaman franchise. 2018’s Aquaman, which starred Jason Momoa as the titular hero, unexpectedly grossed $1.2 billion worldwide. Then, COVID-19 and multiple rounds of reshoots delayed the film even further. The final nail in the coffin came when Warner Bros. hired James Gunn and Peter Safran, who, unsurprisingly, wanted to completely reboot the DC universe.
Quiz
8 Questions · Test Your KnowledgeBlockbuster movies on Netflix
Trivia challenge
From indie romance to post-apocalyptic horror and rock ‘n’ roll history — how well do you know these Netflix hits?
DramaHorrorMusicDirectorsCasting
Begin
Which director is behind the quirky 2012 coming-of-age film Moonrise Kingdom?
ASofia CoppolaBSpike JonzeCWes AndersonDMichel Gondry
Correct! Wes Anderson directed Moonrise Kingdom, bringing his signature symmetrical framing and deadpan humor to a story of young love set in 1965 New England. The film was his seventh feature and earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
Not quite — Moonrise Kingdom was directed by Wes Anderson, the auteur known for his meticulously composed visual style. While Sofia Coppola, Spike Jonze, and Michel Gondry are all acclaimed indie filmmakers, this whimsical tale of runaway children belongs to Anderson’s distinctly quirky cinematic universe.
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Which veteran actor plays the eccentric Scout Master Ward in Moonrise Kingdom?
ABill MurrayBEdward NortonCBruce WillisDJeff Goldblum
Correct! Edward Norton plays the well-meaning but hapless Scout Master Ward, delivering a wonderfully earnest performance. Norton was part of an ensemble that also included Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, and Frances McDormand, making Moonrise Kingdom one of the most star-studded indie films of its era.
Not quite — Scout Master Ward was played by Edward Norton, who gave the role a wonderfully sincere, slightly bumbling quality. Bill Murray and Bruce Willis were also in the film but in different roles, and Jeff Goldblum, while a Wes Anderson regular, did not appear in this particular picture.
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28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a sequel in a long-running horror franchise. What infected the population in the original 28 Days Later?
AA mutated strain of rabiesBA government-engineered plagueCA virus called RageDA parasitic fungus
Correct! The original 28 Days Later introduced the terrifying Rage virus, which was accidentally released when animal rights activists broke into a research lab and freed infected chimpanzees. Unlike traditional zombie lore, the infected in this franchise are alive and driven by uncontrollable aggression.
Not quite — the culprit in the original 28 Days Later was a virus called Rage, unleashed after activists freed infected chimpanzees from a laboratory. The franchise is notably distinct from zombie films because its victims are not undead; they are living humans overwhelmed by violent, uncontrollable rage.
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Who directed 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, continuing the franchise Danny Boyle originally launched?
AAlex GarlandBJuan Carlos FresnadilloCNia DaCostaDGareth Edwards
Correct! Nia DaCosta, known for her acclaimed work on Candyman (2021), directed The Bone Temple. Her involvement brought fresh creative energy to the long-dormant franchise, with Danny Boyle returning to direct the first film in the trilogy and handing off the second chapter to DaCosta.
Not quite — The Bone Temple was directed by Nia DaCosta, who previously helmed the 2021 Candyman. Alex Garland wrote the screenplay for the original 28 Days Later, while Juan Carlos Fresnadillo directed the 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later, making all the wrong options plausible names attached to this franchise’s history.
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In Moonrise Kingdom, what is the name of the young girl who runs away with Sam Shakusky?
AMargotBSuzy BishopCClementineDAgatha
Correct! Suzy Bishop, played by Kara Hayward in her feature film debut, runs away with fellow misfit Sam Shakusky across the fictional New England island of New Penzance. The name Margot is a nod to Wes Anderson’s earlier film The Royal Tenenbaums, making it a clever red herring.
Not quite — the young heroine is Suzy Bishop, brought to life by first-time actress Kara Hayward. Margot is actually the name of a character from Anderson’s earlier film The Royal Tenenbaums, while Clementine and Agatha appear in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Grand Budapest Hotel respectively.
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The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel focuses on a founding member of the band. What instrument did Hillel Slovak play?
ABass guitarBDrumsCLead guitarDKeyboards
Correct! Hillel Slovak was the original lead guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and his soulful, eclectic playing style helped define the band’s early sound. His tragic death from a heroin overdose in 1988 profoundly impacted his bandmates, particularly Anthony Kiedis, and shaped much of the band’s later music.
Not quite — Hillel Slovak was the lead guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, not the bassist or drummer. Flea held down the bass, while Chad Smith would later take over on drums. Slovak’s distinctive guitar work was central to the band’s identity in their formative years before his untimely death in 1988.
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Which Red Hot Chili Peppers member is most prominently featured alongside Hillel Slovak in the documentary Our Brother, Hillel, given their lifelong friendship?
AFleaBChad SmithCJohn FruscianteDAnthony Kiedis
Correct! Anthony Kiedis and Hillel Slovak were childhood best friends long before forming the Red Hot Chili Peppers, making their bond central to the documentary’s emotional core. Kiedis wrote extensively about Slovak’s death in his memoir Scar Tissue, describing it as one of the most devastating moments of his life.
Not quite — Anthony Kiedis is the central figure in exploring Hillel Slovak’s legacy, as the two were childhood friends who grew up together in Los Angeles before co-founding the band. While Flea was also a close friend, it is the Kiedis-Slovak relationship that forms the emotional backbone of the documentary.
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28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is the second film in a planned trilogy. Who wrote the screenplay for the project, as they did for the original 28 Days Later?
ADanny BoyleBAlex GarlandCCillian MurphyDAndrew Macdonald
Correct! Alex Garland, who wrote the screenplay for the original 28 Days Later, returned to pen the scripts for the new trilogy. Garland has since become a celebrated director in his own right with films like Ex Machina and 28 Days Later spiritual successor Men, cementing his place as one of modern horror and sci-fi’s most important voices.
Not quite — Alex Garland is the screenwriter behind the 28 Days Later franchise, including the new trilogy. Danny Boyle directed the original film rather than writing it, Cillian Murphy was its star, and Andrew Macdonald served as producer. Garland’s return to this world was a major draw for fans of the original film.
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For lack of a better word, WBD essentially “dumped” Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in December 2023. Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) still wants to kill Aquaman, and this time, he has a powerful Black Trident to do it. To stop Black Manta from destroying Atlantis and the rest of the underwater world, Aquaman must team up with his brother, Orm (Patrick Wilson). Yes, the same half-brother who tried to kill him. This movie is a lot funnier than it should be, and that’s a testament to the strong chemistry between Momoa and Wilson.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom begins streaming on Prime Video on May 27.
4
The Theory of Everything
Eddie Redmayne’s Oscar moment
Eddie Redmayne achieved acting immortality when he won Best Actor at the 2015 Oscars for playing Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything. To play Hawking, Redmayne underwent a complete physical transformation, a hallmark of many Best Actor winners. The movie begins in the early 1960s when Hawking meets Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones) and instantly falls in love. However, Hawking’s muscles begin to fail him after being diagnosed with motor neuron disease.
The rest of the movie chronicles Hawking’s academic achievements along with his marriage to Wilde. James Marsh’s drama is not a traditional biopic — it really hones in on the love story between Hawking and Wilde. Personally, I was pulling for Michael Keaton to win the Oscar for Birdman. It’s nothing personal, Mr. Redmayne.
The Theory of Everything premieres on Netflix on May 31.
3
Propeller One-Way Night Coach
John Travolta’s directorial debut
I need PR teams to study what John Travolta is doing right now to promote his directorial debut, Propeller One-Way Night Coach. The legendary actor cannot stop wearing a beret and glasses. He flexed the new look on the Cannes steps and brought it over to the States on The Tonight Show. I pray Travolta keeps this look for a long time.
As for his movie, Propeller One-Way Night Coach is based on the children’s book of the same name written by Travolta. The 61-minute movie follows Jeff (Clark Shotwell), a young boy who boards a cross-country flight to Hollywood with his mother, Helen (Kelly Eviston-Quinnett). It’s a personal film for Travolta, a pilot himself, as he highlights the wonders and awe of aviation.
Apple TV will release Propeller One-Way Night Coach on May 29.
Propeller One-Way Night Coach
Release Date
May 29, 2026
Runtime
61 Minutes
Director
John Travolta
2
The Moment
It’s Charli XCX’s world
It’s rare for pop stars to break out after spending over a decade in the business. Charli XCX has been around since 2008, and during the 2010s, she had some hits with “Fancy” and “Boom Clap.” She was like your pop star’s favorite pop star — someone on the cusp of mainstream stardom. Then, Brat came along in 2024 and launched her into superstardom.
You could say that Charli is having a moment, so naturally, the singer poked fun at herself and the entire Brat Summer movement in A24’s The Moment. In this mockumentary, Charli XCX plays a fictionalized version of herself as she prepares for a highly anticipated arena tour. Charli grapples with the pressures of fame and her reluctance to play into the Brat character she created for herself. The Moment has garnered a polarizing reaction from fans and critics. Is Charli a brilliant entertainer in on the joke, or is it a misguided attempt at comedy? Regardless of your opinion, Charli is never boring, and I love her for it.
The Moment heads to HBO Max on May 29.
1
Miss You, Love You
Grief takes on a new meaning
Jim Rash knows a thing or two about grief. Rash co-wrote The Descendants, an Oscar-winning movie about a man forced to reconcile with his comatose wife’s likely death and its impact on his relationship with two daughters. Miss You, Love You has a different premise compared to The Descendants, but the idea of grief and finding answers in unlikely places is a common thread in both movies.
Diane Patterson (Allison Janney) is a grieving widow who must now plan for her husband’s funeral. Diane thought her estranged son, Tyler, would help with the process. Much to her surprise, Tyler sends his assistant, Jamie Simms (Andrew Rannells), to help Diane with the funeral. It’s an odd pairing at first, but over time, Diane and Jamie find solace in each other. It’s definitely the kind of movie that will force you to call your parents when it’s over.
Miss You, Love You premieres on May 29 on HBO Max.
More movies to stream this week
Tom Clancy’s iconic CIA analyst returned to Prime Video last week in Jack Ryan: Ghost War. It’s essentially a supersized version of the TV show, which I thoroughly enjoy. Elsewhere, try one of Netflix’s war movies, including Unbroken and Hacksaw Ridge.