The weekly lineup brings back popular series such as “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” “The Chosen,” “O Verão que Mudou Minha Vida,” and “Kaiju No. 8,” with a wide range of audiences. The movie list also offers a variety of options, from Petra Costa’s new political documentary to another comedy by Leandro Hassum, passing through “O Esquema Fenício,” action thrillers, European animation, and K-dramas. Check out 22 highlights, scheduled to arrive on streaming until next Saturday, July 19.
NOW
🎞️ NO DOGS AND ITALIANS ALLOWED | Vod*
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Adult stop-motion animation explores Italian migration at the beginning of the 20th century. With a biographical hook, the story focuses on the journey of Luigi Ughetto, the grandfather of director Alain Ughetto (“Jasmine”), following his path as he leaves his hometown in Italy in search of a better life in France. Faced with economic and social difficulties in Ughettera, a village in northern Italy, Luigi decides to cross the Alps and start a new life, changing his family’s fate forever.
The delicate work blends poetry and realism, contextualizing xenophobia and the harsh reality of Italians seeking new opportunities in foreign lands, while also introducing lyrical scenes in which Alain Ughetto fictionalizes dialogues with his late grandmother, Cesira, to recreate family memories and give a universal dimension to the immigrants’ experience. The film has participated in various international festivals and has received important awards, such as the Jury Prize at the Annecy Animation Festival and the trophy for Best Animated Film from the European Film Academy.
🎞️ RITAS | Vod*
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The documentary directed by Oswaldo Santana, with collaboration from Karen Harley, presents a sensitive and multifaceted portrait of Rita Lee. Using archival footage, animations, and visual collages, “Ritas” emphasizes the artist’s own gaze and voice, as she narrates memorable episodes from her career, from the beginning with Os Mutantes to her consecration as an icon of Brazilian rock.
The narrative is built from Rita Lee’s last interview and unpublished recordings she made herself, dialoguing with the plurality of her personas. The soundtrack highlights hits such as “Ovelha Negra,” “Lança Perfume,” and “Mania de Você,” along with original score by Zeca Baleiro. Presented at the É Tudo Verdade 2025 festival, the film was celebrated for balancing inventive visual resources and fidelity to the free spirit of the honoree, establishing itself as an emotional document about the artist’s legacy.
🎞️ SHARK: BEHIND THE CLASSIC | Disney+
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The documentary revisits the transformative impact of Steven Spielberg’s first classic by reconstructing the film’s journey that changed Hollywood. The production recovers the context of “Jaws'” premiere, exactly 50 years ago, and details how the boldness of filming in open sea, under unpredictable conditions, almost sank the project before its release.
In an exclusive interview, accompanied by behind-the-scenes images from the time, the filmmaker recalls the difficulties with the famous mechanical shark, which broke down many times and increased the tension on the set. The schedule exploded by more than 100 days and the budget doubled, leading Spielberg to believe he would never direct another film after “Jaws.” The atmosphere was one of chaos: tourists invaded power outlets, actors dealt with seasickness during filming at sea, and the main cast frequently clashed, especially Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss.
The film directed by Laurent Bouzereau reveals how each technical and human obstacle ended up shaping not only the suspense of the movie, but also the entire modern concept of a blockbuster. With $260 million collected at the time, “Jaws” launched the era of summer blockbusters, box office phenomena, influencing productions such as “Star Wars” and “Jurassic Park.” Its success changed the public’s relationship with the oceans, destroyed the reputation of sharks, and established new standards for the film industry.
SUNDAY
🎞️ The Phoenician Scheme | Vod*
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Wes Anderson’s new comedy blends espionage and family drama with the director’s unmistakable style. Visually, the film carries the director’s trademark: meticulously symmetrical compositions, a pastel color palette, and retro set design create a slightly parallel world, where the aesthetics of a bygone era flirt with absurdity. However, there is a noticeable difference in rhythm: the initial minutes are among the most frantic and shocking in the director’s filmography. From the very opening, for example, an unusual sequence shows an assassination attempt on the protagonist. A bomb explodes inside his private plane during flight, resulting in a graphic scene that surprises with its cinematic violence in an Anderson film. This introduction sets the tone: although elegant and full of humor, the work also embraces a more visceral action, almost parodying conventional spy films.
The plot takes place during the Cold War and follows the extravagant magnate Anatole “Zsa-zsa” Korda—considered one of the richest men in the world—who, after realizing he might be a target of new attacks, tries to reconcile with his distant daughter and complete a monumental infrastructure project nicknamed “The Phoenician Scheme.” Korda declares that his daughter Liesl, a young nun who has remained away from her father’s business affairs, will be the sole heir to his empire, but imposes the condition that she personally help him outwit rivals and enemies who might sabotage his project. Alongside the naive Norwegian assistant and entomologist Bjorn, father and daughter embark on a journey through various European cities and the Middle East, secretly negotiating with unscrupulous businessmen, contractors, and even criminals—all while trying to mislead competitors about the true intentions of “The Phoenician Scheme.” Amid lavish dinners, secret meetings, and eccentric pursuits, the script weaves a satire of corporate diplomacy during times of geopolitical tension, always with Anderson’s deadpan humor and sharp dialogue.
Known for cult films such as “The Royal Tenenbaums” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Anderson once again gathers a stellar cast, as is customary in his releases. Benicio Del Toro (“Sicario: Blade Runner”) takes center stage as Zsa-zsa Korda, balancing the character’s comedic eccentricity—a bon vivant facing assassination attempts—with a melancholic air of someone carrying secrets and traumas. Young Mia Threapleton (“The Goonies”) portrays Liesl with a curious mix of innocence and quiet determination. Michael Cera (“Scott Pilgrim vs. The World”) plays the awkward Bjorn and serves as comic relief in many scenes, representing the viewer’s bewildered perspective in the face of the Korda family’s extravagances. They are accompanied by several actors from Anderson’s usual circle: from the old partner Bill Murray (“The Royal Tenenbaums”) to the new follower Scarlett Johansson (“Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom”), bringing to life caricatured military officers, clumsy spies, and idiosyncratic characters who cross paths with the main trio.
At the same time, beneath the lush surface—each scene full of exhaustive details—there is a sincere emotional thread: in the end, it’s a story about a father and daughter trying to reconnect amidst the chaos.
📺 THE CHOSEN | Prime Video
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The 5th season of the biblical series that became a global phenomenon follows the last days of Jesus, preparing the audience for a central moment of Christian faith: the Last Supper. The treatment is emotional, focusing on the intimate interactions between Jesus and his apostles, in the face of growing tension with the religious authorities of Jerusalem.
The series stands out for its humanized approach. Jonathan Roumie portrays an accessible and affectionate Jesus, and his relationship with Simon Peter (Shahar Isaac) and Mary Magdalene (Elizabeth Tabish) is developed naturally. The scenes of the Last Supper are marked by symbolism, but also by restrained emotion — this moment is constructed with sobriety, without exaggeration or theatricality.
The production prioritizes authenticity, from the cast, made up of actors whose origins are compatible with the historical characters, to the setting, filmed in real locations. With five seasons and millions of viewers in more than 180 countries, “The Chosen” has become the most ambitious audiovisual representation of Jesus’ life in the streaming era. The new season maintains this standard, with episodes that seek dramatic intensity and spiritual fidelity at the same time.
SECOND
🎞️ APOCALIPSE NOS TRÓPICOS | Netflix
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The new documentary by Petra Costa—a Brazilian filmmaker nominated for an Oscar for “Democracia em Vertigem” (2019)—delves into the alarming intersection between religion and politics in contemporary Brazil. Co-written with Alessandra Orofino (“Greg News”), the film investigates how the growth of evangelical Christianity, with its end-of-days ideology, played a crucial role in the rise of President Jair Bolsonaro and his far-right agenda, while also raising questions about the risk of a theocracy influencing the course of Brazilian democracy.
Produced by Plan B Entertainment (the production company of actor Brad Pitt) and Netflix, Petra had at its disposal unprecedented resources for a national documentary. Over nearly a decade of research and filming, the director gained direct access to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, former President Jair Bolsonaro, and Pastor Silas Malafaia, a prominent figure in evangelical bolsonarism. Her work goes beyond recording political events: it questions “the seduction of power, prophecy, and belief” and connects personal experiences, historical records, and religious symbols into a narrative that, according to the director, reflects a moment of institutional collapse in the country.
O filme entrelaça passado e presente para traçar paralelos históricos – mostra, por exemplo, como a teologia da prosperidade e a expansão neopentecostal ganharam força desde a redemocratização, influenciando parlamentares e formando uma bancada evangélica robusta. Imagens de arquivo dos cultos gigantes em estádios, trechos de sermões inflamados sobre o “fim dos tempos” e cenas da campanha eleitoral de Bolsonaro embasam a narrativa. Momentos-chave do governo também são esmiuçados sob essa ótica: a gestão da pandemia de Covid-19 (quando Bolsonaro minimizou vacinas e alinhou-se a pastores que chamavam o vírus de “castigo divino”), e os protestos de 7 de setembro com forte participação religiosa. O clímax do documentário é a cobertura das chocantes cenas de 8 de Janeiro de 2023 – quando extremistas invadiram as sedes dos Três Poderes, em Brasília – dando glórias a Deus.
Exibido fora de competição no Festival de Veneza, arrancou aplausos e atraiu atenção internacional para o cenário político brasileiro. Desde então, percorreu um circuito de grandes festivais: foi exibido no Telluride Film Festival nos EUA, integrou a seção Spotlight do Festival de Nova York, passou pelo Festival de San Sebastián, na Espanha, e venceu o Prêmio Coral de Melhor Documentário no Festival de Havana, em Cuba, antes de ganhar lançamento em circuito limitado nos cinemas do Brasil e nos EUA. A estratégia fisgou a imprensa americana e o colocou na disputa por uma vaga no Oscar 2026. A Variety destacou que Petra “faz do Brasil uma parábola para os EUA” e elogiou a coragem da diretora ao expor forças que muitos preferem ignorar, enquanto The Hollywood Reporter revelou que a Netflix planeja campanha de premiação para o filme, tamanha a confiança em sua qualidade e relevância.
TERÇA
🎞️ The Critic | Prime Video
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Ian McKellen (“The Lord of the Rings”) plays a feared theatrical critic with a sharp tongue in this suspense film set in 1930s London. Amid growing conservatism and the rise of fascist movements, the relentless critic Jimmy Erskine faces direct threats to his position at the newspaper with the arrival of the new owner, David Brooke, played by Mark Strong (“Shazam!”), who wants to transform the publication into a family-friendly magazine and sees the critic’s mocking style as an obstacle to renewal. To avoid being ostracized, Jimmy proposes a pact with the young actress Nina Land (Gemma Arterton, from “Gemma Bovary”), who dreams of conquering the pages of the critics through praise.
The relationship among the three becomes entangled in mutual manipulations. Brooke, although married, harbors feelings for Nina, while she is involved with a painter who is also committed. The critic, aware of others’ weaknesses, exploits these contradictions as a way to preserve his space, even in the face of a social setting that marginalizes his identity as a gay man.
The script by Patrick Marber (“Notes on a Scandal”) weaves a dark thriller with touches of irony and emotional perversity. Directed by Anand Tucker (“Marriage Story”), the film is supported by a strong British cast, which also includes Alfred Enoch (“The Trial of the Chicago 7”), Romola Garai (“Becoming Elizabeth”), Ben Barnes (“Shadow and Bone”), and Lesley Manville (“The Crown”).
FOURTH
📺 The Summer That Changed My Life | Prime Video
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The third season, which is also Belly Conklin’s (Lola Tung) last summer, is marked by intense decisions and boiling emotions. After two years of growing up and discoveries, the relationship with Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno) has reached its peak, leading the couple to plan their wedding despite maternal resistance. The university daily life, between romantic moments and camaraderie, strengthens their connection, but old bonds threaten to resurface.
An unexpected return of Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney) reopens old wounds, reigniting the romantic triangle tension that has driven the story since the beginning of the plot based on Jenny Han’s “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.” The reunion between Belly and Conrad, just before his wedding, exposes unresolved feelings and doubts about the trio’s future, now under the pressure of the final chapters.
The script weaves memories and goodbyes within the nostalgic atmosphere of Cousins Beach. The chapters reflect the protagonist’s indecision, as she must decide whether to take a definitive step with Jeremiah or revisit her passion for Conrad in the conclusion of the romantic trilogy, adapted by the author herself.
📺 BULLET/BULLET | Disney+
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The new anime from the director of “Jujutsu Kaisen” combines action, humor, and a futuristic dystopia. “Bullet/Bullet” is the result of a decade of development by Park Sunghoo, featuring eccentric characters, degraded universes, and moral conflicts. The story follows Gear, a scrap collector who splits his routine between small thefts and high-risk missions, always alongside the robot Qu-0213, who has multiple personalities, and Shirokuma, a gambling-addicted polar bear. The trio’s dynamic takes a turn when they rescue a mysterious girl, putting them all in conflict with the dominant elite of a post-apocalyptic world.
The cast includes well-known names from Japanese animation: Marina Inoue (“Attack on Titan”) as Gear, Kazuhiro Yamaji (“One-Punch Man”) as Shirokuma, as well as Rie Kugimiya (“Fullmetal Alchemist”) and Kana Hanazawa (“Psycho-Pass”). The script by Aki Kindaichi (“Uma Musume: Cinderella Grey”) also features a contemporary soundtrack, including “Work Hard” by Chanmina and “Glass Door” by the band Newspeak.
With a release of 16 episodes, divided into two parts, “Bullet/Bullet” joins the expansion of Disney+ in the anime universe, alongside titles such as “Tokyo Revengers” and “Gannibal.”
📺 IMMORAL LIFE | Disney+
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The series recreates the underworld of South Korean crime in the 1970s, but instead of city shootouts, it presents confrontations at sea. The plot revolves around rumors about a Chinese boat that sank with a great fortune. Veteran conman Oh Gwan-seok (Ryu Seung-ryong, from “In the Mood for Love”) convinces his inexperienced nephew Hee-dong (Yang Se-jong, “Doona!”) to join a treasure hunt that quickly gets out of control, attracting various criminals.
The narrative, written and directed by Kang Yoon-sung (“The Next Bet”), blends suspense, humor, and emotional tension typical of unlikely partnerships. The dark setting in coastal locations and the typical 1970s costumes distinguish this crime drama, which also includes underwater chase scenes and conflicts between factions at sea.
🎞️ SEPTEMBER 5 | Paramount+
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The drama recreates one of the most shocking and tragic events in Olympic history: the hostage crisis at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Although the story of the attack on the Israeli Olympic delegation by Palestinian terrorists has been portrayed in several documentaries and films, this new docudrama is the first to present the Munich massacre from a journalistic perspective, following the action from the viewpoint of ABC Sports’ TV team covering the games during the attack. The plot examines the ethical and moral implications of broadcasting terrorists with hostages live, exploring the delicate balance between reporting the news and becoming part of it. The compelling story was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
The cast includes Peter Sarsgaard (“In Plain Sight”), John Magaro (“The Many Saints of Newark”), and Ben Chaplin (“The Nevers”) as three ABC Sports news producers who worked behind the scenes during the coverage. While ABC preferred the news department to handle the reports, the trio struggled to continue their coverage as the crisis unfolded in real time, just one building away from their location. They had no idea that the entire world would be watching, including the terrorists.
Directed and co-written by Swiss filmmaker Tim Fehlbaum, known for the post-apocalyptic sci-fis “Hell” (2011) and “The Shelter” (2021), “5 de Setembro” also features archival footage from the real ABC broadcast, including scenes with anchor Jim McKay.
🎞️ LOBISOMEM | Prime Video
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The new approach of the classic Universal monster has direction by Leigh Whannell, who previously succeeded with a modern-day reimagining of “The Invisible Man.” This time, the result was quite different, considered only average and without box office returns. Filmed in New Zealand, the film follows a family terrorized by a deadly predator and sees their own father transformed into a monster.
The creature’s appearance is completely different from the classic version. Very humanized, it bears no resemblance to the monstrous look of the 1941 film and the numerous variations it inspired. The story also differs from “The Wolf Man,” starring Lon Chaney Jr., and its 2010 remake with Benicio del Toro. Both followed a skeptical man who, upon returning to his hometown, was bitten by a legendary creature and began to transform. Now, a family is attacked by the creature, and the father is infected by the curse of lycanthropy. Trapped in a house to survive the monster outside, they also have to deal with the transformation within the four walls.
The studio
Negotiated for months with Ryan Gosling
(“Barbie”), but it is Christopher Abbott (“Poor Things”) who ends up becoming the monster in this new version. The cast also includes Julia Garner (“Ozark”), Sam Jaeger (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) and the girl Matilda Firth (“Subservience”).
The script is written by Whannell himself in collaboration with actress Corbett Tuck (from the “Supernatural” franchise, created by the director) and the duo Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo (both writers of the series “Orange Is the New Black”). Lauren is married to producer Jason Blum, owner of Blumhouse studio, which produces “The Wolf Man” and also produced the new “The Invisible Man” for Universal.
Fifth
📺 STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS | Paramount+
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“Strange New Worlds” is a prelude to the original “Star Trek” — or “Star Trek: The Original Series” in Brazil. Although it is a recent production, its concept is over 60 years old and predates the launch of the classic series itself. The production originated from the rejected 1964 pilot, which introduced Spock, Captain Pike, and Number One, characters that were part of that first version, which was ultimately rejected. Only Spock remained in the second pilot, which was approved in 1966 with Captain Kirk commanding the Enterprise. Despite being discarded, viewers could see a preview of the original crew in a two-part flashback episode that became iconic in 1966, featuring recycled scenes from the rejected pilot. This appearance generated great fascination and much speculation among fans about the lost adventures of the Enterprise. Until 2019, when the producers of “Star Trek: Discovery” decided to rescue those characters in a special appearance, causing trekkers to go crazy. Soon after, a campaign took over social media demanding a new series focused on Pike, Spock, and Number One, which eventually materialized through the hands of writers Akiva Goldsman (creator of “Titans”), Alex Kurtzman (writer of the 2009 “Star Trek” reboot), and Jenny Lumet (creator of “Clarice”).
The main actors are Anson Mount (“Inhumans”) as Pike, Ethan Peck (“The Sky at Night”) as Spock, and Rebecca Romijn (“X-Men”) as Una (Number 1). However, the series also introduces younger versions of Uhura (the classic character from “Star Trek” 1966, played by Nichelle Nichols), Nurse Christine Chapel (originally portrayed by Majel Barrett Roddenberry, wife of “Star Trek” creator, since 1966), and Captain Kirk himself (eternized by William Shatner) in a recurring role, played respectively by Celia Rose Gooding (from the Broadway production “Jagged Little Pill”), Jess Bush (“Playing for Keeps”) and Paul Wesley (“The Vampire Diaries”).
There is still Babs Olusanmokun (“Black Mirror”) in the role of Dr. M’Benga, the medical officer who appeared in two episodes of “Star Trek” in the 1960s, and a curious new addition: Christina Chong (“Tom & Jerry Movie”) as La’an Noonien-Singh, a descendant of the famous villain Khan. To complete the lineup, the second season introduced another classic character: engineer Montgomery Scott, “Scotty,” played by Martin Quinn (“The Lovers”), who is the first Scottish actor to portray the character, previously played by James Doohan in the original series and by Simon Pegg in the recent films.
The third season follows this crew facing the consequences of their encounter with the Gorn, which concluded the second season and added Scotty to the story. The new episodes also resume the relationship between Spock (Ethan Peck) and Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush), despite their breakup in the previous season, when Chapel left for a medical archaeology program. Another novelty is the introduction of the Holodeck, a futuristic technology that would only officially appear decades later in the franchise’s timeline. The virtual space is depicted with the classic look seen in “The Next Generation” in the 1980s. The themes of the season reinforce the atmosphere of homage to the classic 1960s series, mixing a variety of genres such as action, mystery, and comedy in self-contained episodes that present complete weekly stories—just like the original version of “Star Trek.”
📺 Unbreakable | Netflix
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The suspense miniseries transforms Yosemite National Park in the USA into the scene of a dark mystery. The story follows agent Kyle Turner (Eric Bana, from “Black Panther”), a ranger haunted by personal traumas, who suspects that the death of a woman after a cliff fall was not accidental. The suspicion that the case was not an accident throws Turner into an investigation full of dangers and hidden secrets in the park.
What was this mysterious woman running from? This is the question at the heart of the story created by Mark L. Smith, award-winning screenwriter of “The Revenant” (2015) and Elle Smith (“The King’s Daughter”). In a way, the investigation is the ideal challenge for Turner, a tormented actor haunted by an unsolved case, who feels much more comfortable in the woods than in contact with other people or the modern world. However, the situation is exactly the opposite for his partner, Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago, from “La Brea”), a rookie forest ranger more accustomed to city life than to the wild nature of Yosemite.
The investigation reveals that the postcard-like landscape has its own dark side, from an improvised tent village to an dishonest wildlife officer (played by Wilson Bethel, from “Daredevil: Born Again”) with whom he has a history. In addition to starring, Bana is also an executive producer of the six-episode drama, along with the two screenwriters and filmmaker John Wells (“Shameless”). The cast also includes Sam Neill (“Jurassic Park”) as a veteran ranger and Rosemarie DeWitt (“Little Fires Everywhere”).
“Unbreakable” is the second series by Mark L. Smith on Netflix. The first, released in January, was called… “Unbreakable Land.” Coincidence or lazy translation?
🎬 AVENGERS OPERATION | Disney+
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The action thriller sees actor Rami Malek moving from “Mr. Robot” to “007: No Time to Die” at a fast pace, like a nerd working for the CIA who embarks on a revenge mission. Charles Heller is a brilliant but deeply introverted cryptographer who becomes furious after his wife (Rachel Brosnahan, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) is killed in a terrorist attack and his superiors refuse to act against the culprits due to conflicting priorities.
Willing to solve the problem with his own hands, he presses the agency to train him, but the CIA trainer (Laurence Fishburne, from “John Wick 4: Baba Yaga”) evaluates that he lacks the ability and cold blood to kill anyone. Furious, Heller decides to act using what he already has: technical knowledge. And he soon becomes a killer the CIA is unable to stop.
Directed by James Hawes (of the series “Slow Horses”), the film also features in its cast Jon Bernthal (“The Punisher”), Michael Stuhlbarg (“Dopesick”), Caitríona Balfe (“Outlander”), Holt McCallany (“Mindhunter”), Julianne Nicholson (“The Man of My Dreams”) and Adrian Martinez (“Stumptown”).
FRIDAY
🎞️ FAMILY, BUT NOT MUCH | Netflix
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The rivalry between Brazil and Argentina serves as the backdrop for a new comedy starring Leandro Hassum on Netflix. In the plot, the comedian plays a jealous father facing his daughter’s engagement to a young Argentine man. Despite being upset by the news, he travels with his family to meet the groom’s family in Bariloche, where cultural differences quickly turn into open conflict with the future son-in-law’s father, resulting in typical provocations and misunderstandings between the two neighboring nations.
The film resumes the classic clash between in-laws and families in shock, a recurring theme in productions such as “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” (1967), “Coming to America” (2000), and “Certain People” (2023), the latter also from Netflix with Eddie Murphy, all focused on cultural differences, rivalries, and generational conflicts. The direction is by Felipe Joffily (“Trap”), while the script is signed by Leandro Soares (“Vai que Cola”) in partnership with Lucas Blanco.
🎞️ MY 84 M² | Netflix
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South Korean suspense tells the story of a man who invests all his savings in an 84 m² apartment in Seoul, but upon moving in, he faces disturbing noises every night. He suspects all his neighbors, who in turn suspect him as the author of the mysterious noises, creating a climate of paranoia reminiscent of the classic “The Tenant” (1976) by Roman Polanski. Soon, living with hostile neighbors turns his dream of housing security into a psychological nightmare.
The cast is led by Kang Ha-neul (the cowardly player from “Round 6”), in the role of the protagonist who, after saving money all his life, begins to distrust his own home. Alongside him are other actors known from series, such as Yeom Hye-ran (“Demon Hunters”) and Seo Hyun-woo (“A Shop for Killers”).
Directed by Kim Tae-joon (“In the Palm of Your Hand”), the film reflects the boom of standardized buildings in South Korea’s real estate market, blending psychological drama and social criticism in the style of successful contemporary Korean cinema.
🎞️ SURVIVAL MISSION | HBO Max
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The new action thriller from Gerard Butler features the actor as a MI6 agent loaned to the CIA, who disguises himself as a telecommunications technician to identify and destroy underground nuclear weapon facilities in Iran. With his marriage falling apart, he hesitates to accept another mission: crossing the border into Afghanistan and traveling through hostile territory occupied by the Taliban to destroy a nuclear plant. However, things quickly get out of control when he enters the country and discovers he has less support than he thought. With only Mo, an interpreter and his guide in the region, he faces numerous dangers to escape from the Taliban.
Third film directed by Butler, Ric Roman Waugh (after “Invasion of the Secret Service” and “Final Destruction: The Last Refuge”), the film has a screenplay by Mitchell LaFortune, a former special operations agent. The plot resembles “The Covenant,” a recent release by Guy Ritchie, as well as geopolitical thrillers inspired by Tom Clancy that defined the cinema of the 1990s.
🎞️ MADAME DUROCHER | HBO Max
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The film directed by Brazilian filmmakers Dida Andrade and Andradina Azevedo (both from “Eike, All or Nothing”) portrays the life of the Frenchwoman Marie Josephine Mathilde Durocher, the first woman to obtain the title of midwife in Brazil and to be recognized as a member of the National Academy of Medicine. The plot shows Marie’s arrival in Brazil in 1816, at the age of seven, together with her mother, until she becomes the first and only woman in the obstetrics course of the newly created Rio de Janeiro Medical School. Her journey challenged the social norms of the time, treating from the poor and prostitutes to the Portuguese royal family.
The cast includes Sandra Corveloni (“Vale Night”) in the role of Marie Durocher in adulthood, while Jeanne Boudier (“Deslembro”) portrays the character in her youth, and Canadian Marie-Josée Croze (“Noite Adentro”) plays Anne, Marie’s mother. Other names include Isabel Fillardis, Armando Babaioff, Fernando Alves Pinto and Mateus Solano.
🎞️ MOON | Mubi
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The Austrian drama follows the journey of Sarah (Florentina Holzinger, a model and performance artist), former MMA fighter who agrees to work as a trainer for three teenagers from a wealthy family in Jordan. The plot unfolds in a large isolated house, where the young girls live under a strict structure, watched over, without internet, and protected by a suspicious guard. The isolated environment strengthens the claustrophobic and oppressive atmosphere. However, gradually, the girls open up, allowing her to see some of the most disturbing details of their existence in golden cages. Curious, Sarah believes in her ability to make a difference, even when a bitter experience should have made her reflect more carefully.
Cinematographer Kurdwin Ayub won the Special Jury Prize at the Locarno Film Festival with her minimalist approach, which explores the contrast between the controlled luxury of the house and the silent questions of the protagonist. At 92 minutes, “Moon” is a slow thriller that balances suspense with social criticism without an easy resolution, leaving the viewer uncomfortable.
SATURDAY
📺 KAIJU NO. 8 | Crunchyroll
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The production by Toho, in partnership with the studio Production I.G, is a real phenomenon in Japan, repeating the success of Naoya Matsumoto’s manga, which has already sold over 13 million copies. Mixing action, comedy, and adventure, the anime is set in a Japan constantly threatened by giant monsters, the kaiju. To deal with these recurring threats, the government maintains a special force responsible for fighting them. The protagonist is Kafka Hibino, who has dreamed since childhood of joining the defense group, driven by a promise he made to his childhood friend Mina Ashiro. But while she followed a military career and became the leader of the unit, he ended up working as a simple garbage collector, cleaning the streets of the pieces of the defeated monsters.
The course of the story changes when Kafka is attacked by monsters and, surprisingly, swallows a small winged kaiju. This event transforms him into a human-kaiju hybrid, endowed with extraordinary strength. This new power finally gives him the opportunity to realize his dream of becoming a member of the elite troop, but to fully manifest his strength, he must turn into a humanoid kaiju, attracting the government’s suspicion, which, unaware of his origin, classifies him as “Kaiju Number 8,” a title reserved for unneutralized threats. The first season ends with Kafka revealing his identity and being accepted as humanity’s secret weapon.
In the second season, Kafka becomes part of the elite team responsible for fighting monstrous threats, now officially recognized as Kaiju Number 8 and integrated into the First Division of the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force.
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🎞️ LOST IN THE MOUNTAIN | NETFLIX
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The dramatic adventure tells the true story of 12-year-old Donn Fendler, who survived alone for nine days in the forests of Mount Katahdin in 1939 after getting lost during an expedition with his father. The protagonist is played by Luke David Blumm (“Welcome to the Neighborhood”), who conveys the desperation and determination of young Donn amid storms, hunger, and wild animals. The film reenacts his journey under extreme conditions, guided by survival instinct, scouting techniques, and willpower.
The direction of Andrew Boodhoo Kightlinger (“Tater Tot & Patton”) relies on the realism of the landscapes, with filming in the real mountains of the story – which spans generations in the American imagination and is a required reading in schools in Maine, where everything takes place.
* VoD (Video on Demand) releases can be rented individually on platforms such as Apple TV, Claro TV+, Prime Store, Microsoft Store, Vivo Play, and YouTube, among others that function as digital rental services without the need for a monthly subscription.
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