The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Having thwarted Bowser’s previous plot to marry Princess Peach, Mario and Luigi now face a fresh threat in Bowser Jr., who is determined to liberate his father from captivity and restore the family legacy. Alongside companions new and old, the brothers travel across the stars to stop the young heir’s crusade.
Rated PG for action, mild violence, and rude humor.
“I rate it 10 out of 5. It’s better than the first one. I really liked that they solved mysteries from the first movie and it will change the way you look at Super Mario.” – Alison Nagle (age 7), AFPL Journal
“The prime attraction of this movie, and its predecessor, is that it envelopes the audience in the Mario world. Every square inch of the screen, from top to bottom, corner to corner, is packed with images derived from the game. Easter eggs abound. Watching it is akin being inside the 2007 Super Mario Galaxy game itself.” – Soren Andersen, Seattle Times
“The story might be thin, and some new characters might not get the attention they deserve, yet The Super Mario Galaxy Movie remains a charming, often hilarious, and playful testament to the greatest video game franchise of all time.” – Ross Bonaime, Collider
Hoppers
What if you could talk to animals and understand what they’re saying? In Disney and Pixar’s all-new feature film Hoppers, scientists have discovered how to “hop” human consciousness into lifelike robotic animals, allowing people to communicate with animals as animals! The adventure introduces Mabel, an animal lover who seizes an opportunity to use the technology, uncovering mysteries within the animal world that are beyond anything she could have imagined.
Rated PG for action / peril, some scary images, and mild language.
“I don’t yet know that I would rank this among Pixar’s absolute best films, but it is the best they’ve released in years, and one that many viewers will treasure for years to come.” – Sean Farrell, AFPL Journal
“Hoppers never stops surprising you in rudely antic ways, and that’s the essence of its delight.” – Owen Gleiberman, Variety
“Hoppers is Pixar at its best, a story with warmth, humor, exciting action, endearing characters, and a reassuringly expansive notion of community.” – Nell Minow, RogerEbert.com
Scream 7
When a new Ghostface killer emerges in the quiet town where Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) has built a new life, her darkest fears are realized as her daughter (Isabel May) becomes the next target. Determined to protect her family, Sidney must face the horrors of her past to put an end to the bloodshed once and for all.
Rated R for strong bloody violence, gore, and language.
“One does not require cinematic genius to have fun, and this movie is indeed fun.” – Mikal CG, Film Threat
“This surprisingly refreshing take on familiar material is unconcerned with meta discussions about where the film stands in the canon.” – Taylor Williams, Slant
“Enjoyably self-aware and satisfyingly bloody, this may be imitation Craven, but it proves Scream‘s slasher-whodunnit formula is still potent enough to thrill.” – Jordan Farley, Total Film
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Season 1
Hedge knight Ser Duncan “Dunk” the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his squire, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), begin their adventures together in the drama series set a thousand years before the events in Game of Thrones.
Rated TV-MA. Contains graphic violence, brief graphic nudity, and strong language.
“This is truly the best visit to Westeros in nearly a decade – certainly since Cersei blew up the Great Sept of Baelor anyway.” – Lewis Knight, Radio Times
“There are moments of absolute emotional devastation in this series, but A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is far and away the lightest, most nimble GoT show to come along so far.” – Matthew Jackson, Looper
“Claffey and Ansell are the show’s beating heart, allowing Dunk and Egg to become one of the most fascinating and tender friendships this universe has put to screen… Throughout its six-episode run, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms makes it clear that fantasy television can still surprise you, and when it comes to the genre, bigger isn’t always better.” – Kaiya Shunyata, RogerEbert.com
You, Me & Tuscany
When a woman crashes at an empty Italian villa, posing as the owner’s fiancée, she discovers an unexpected romance that may transform her life.
Rated PG-13 for some strong language, and sexual material.
“Yes, this is a standard rom-com, in all the best of ways — both playing with the genre’s well-trodden tropes, and letting us enjoy how much fun they can be.” – Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times
“Through it all, Bailey’s star power shines. She holds the camera’s attention, pops off the screen and gives Anna an innocent energy that makes her ruses seem mischievous and harmless.” – Caryn James, The Hollywood Reporter
“Beautiful young people, stunning scenery, and—did I mention?—unreally gorgeous tomatoes: none of these are negligible movie pleasures, and You, Me & Tuscany—directed by Kat Coiro and written by husband-and-wife team Ryan Engle and Kristin Engle—serves them up unapologetically.” – Stephanie Zacharek, Time
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
Moments after surviving an all-out attack from the Le Domas family, Grace (Samara Weaving) discovers she’s reached the next level of the nightmarish game — and this time with her estranged sister Faith (Kathryn Newton) at her side. Grace has one chance to survive, keep her sister alive, and claim the High Seat of the Council that controls the world. Four rival families are hunting her for the throne, and whoever wins rules it all.
Rated R for strong bloody violence, gore, pervasive language, and brief drug use.
“Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is a worthy sequel, repeating some of the same beats as its predecessor, but cleverly reinvented so that it’s still unpredictable and hilariously bizarre.” – Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times
“It helps a great deal to have a wickedly fun ensemble ready to play this murderous game, led once again by a physical, engaged, immediate performance from Samara Weaving.” – Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com
“Horror sequels often divide fans, especially when the original develops a passionate cult following like Ready or Not. Matching that film’s sharp humor, bloody chaos, and bonkers energy would be no small feat. Fortunately, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come proves to be just as explosively fun as its predecessor, even if it’s essentially ‘”‘the same, but more.'” – BJ Colangelo, /Film
Crime 101
Set against the sun-bleached grit of Los Angeles, Crime 101 weaves the tale of an elusive jewel thief (Chris Hemsworth) whose string of heists along the 101 freeway have mystified police. When he eyes the score of a lifetime, his path crosses that of a disillusioned insurance broker (Halle Berry) who is facing her own crossroads. Convinced he has found a pattern, a relentless detective (Mark Ruffalo) is closing in, raising the stakes even higher. As the heist approaches, the line between hunter and hunted begins to blur, and all three are faced with life-defining choices–and the realization that there can be no turning back.
Rated R for language throughout, some violence, and sexual material / nudity.
“Crime 101 is an underworld drama that’s clever and compelling in unusual ways.” – Owen Gleiberman, Variety
“An extremely down-to-earth, character-driven heist movie that in the best ways resembles similar fare from the 1990s.” – Brian Lowry, Status
“This is a special movie. It has a life force unlike any other crime thriller I’ve seen. It’s about characters who suffer a personal failure but emerge transformed. It’s a violent movie, but not a cruel one, and unexpectedly moving by the end.” – Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com
They Will Kill You
A desperate woman answers a cryptic ad for a live-in housekeeper at a luxurious yet foreboding New York City high-rise. Upon arrival, she uncovers the building’s sinister history: residents have vanished without trace for decades, fueling whispers of a Satanic cult lurking in the shadows. As she navigates the eccentric, secretive community, paranoia mounts—doors creak at night, symbols appear in the walls, and her new “family” hides deadly secrets. What starts as a gig from hell spirals into a fight for survival against ritualistic horrors and twisted loyalties.
Rated R for strong bloody violence, gore, language, and brief sexual content / nudity.
“They Will Kill You is a modern action gem with a knockout leading performance by Zazie Beetz, who more than cements her status as a star of the genre we ought to see more of.” – Chase Hutchinson, IGN
“They Will Kill You is a deeply unserious comedy horror that provides just enough plot to get it to the next bloodbath. It might not work for some but there’s something in the enthusiasm of all involved that is hard to resist as they craft a gleefully chaotic spectacle.” – Victoria Luxford, NME
“They Will Kill You is both irreverent, and reverential to its references, and cartoonishly violent in increasingly surreal ways, but it also maintains the emotional core at the center, which is Asia’s blind big sister protectiveness over Maria, powered by the guilt she feels over not being there for her. It’s a simple, but primal character motivation that Beetz sells with a wild-eyed ferocity.” – Katie Walsh, Chicago Tribune
The Mastermind
In a quiet corner of Massachusetts circa 1970, JB Mooney (Josh O’Connor) an unemployed carpenter turned amateur art thief, plans his first big heist. When things go haywire, his life unravels.
Rated R for some language.
“Like so much of Reichardt’s output, The Mastermind feels modest when you’re watching it and downright brilliant once it’s had some time to settle in your mind.” – Alison Willmore, Vulture
“Josh O’Connor is marvelous as this sputtering soul with no aptitude for illegality — or, frankly, anything else — as he drifts through an unremarkable life that’s slowly slipping through his fingers.” – Tim Grierson, Screen Daily
“One can even detect, in this brilliant, captivating Reichardt gem about fortune and fate, a what-if attached to her disaffected male protagonist: Would today’s version of James, just as adrift and arrogant, steal art to assuage his emptiness? Or, thanks to the internet, succeed at something much worse? The Mastermind may be an ironic title as heists go. But it also hints at the male-pattern badness still to come.” – Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
Baz Luhrmann’s account of Elvis Presley’s 1970s residency in Las Vegas features never-before-seen footage and recordings.
Rated PG-13 for smoking and some language.
“There’s a purity and natural-born dazzle to EPiC. What you see is what you get: Elvis in the raw, driven by the awareness that it doesn’t get any better than that.” – Owen Gleiberman, Variety
“The most beautiful thing about EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is that in connecting us so intimately to the man and showing him in all his complexity, Luhrmann cuts through the baggage we bring and gives us a fresh look at one of the most fascinating and accomplished musicians who has ever lived.” – Andy Howell, Film Threat
“Calling the movie an archival doc or concert film might be accurate but somehow seems almost reductive. Much more than that, it’s a transcendent theatrical experience, an exhilarating party, a giddying visual and sonic blitz that will be an elixir to the Elvis faithful and an unparalleled primer for those who have never quite grasped what all the hysteria was about.” – David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
Protector
Nikki (Milla Jovovich), a veteran war hero, thought she’d left her violent past behind for a peaceful life with her daughter, Chloe – until Chloe is kidnapped by a human trafficking ring that forces Nikki into the city’s criminal underworld on a relentless pursuit. As she tears through a ruthless crime syndicate using her military training, Nikki draws the attention of both the police and the military, shooting her to the top of the most wanted list. In this high-stakes race against time, Nikki must use the violent skills she thought she left behind to save her daughter.
Rated R for strong / bloody violence, and language.
“If you want proof that hell hath no fury like an angry mom, look no further.” – Chris Knight, Original Cin
“Protector is a solid enough action drama, with Jojovich delivering on the emotional payoffs, that it’s worth checking out for her fans and of the genre.” – Travis Hopson, Punch Drunk Critics
Night Patrol
An LAPD officer must put aside his differences with the area’s street gangs when he discovers a local police task force is harboring a horrific secret that endangers the residents of the housing projects he grew up in.
Rated R for strong bloody violence, gore, pervasive language, sexual references, and some drug use.
“With its depth, style, and surprisingly outlandish ending, Night Patrol is the latest feather in Long’s mightily-quilled cap.” – Luna Guthrie, Collider
“Even at its most uneven, Night Patrol is far more interesting than it is disposable, and its ambition ultimately becomes its most compelling quality.” – Nicolás Delgadillo, Knotfest
“Night Patrol is far from perfect, but it’s got a certain something that pulls you in. The bleakness of its worldview is matched by the integrity of its filmmaking and performances. The life it depicts is not sugarcoated. It’s drenched in blood.” – Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com
The Old Woman with the Knife
Aging assassin Hornclaw has seen it all, but she never expected to mentor a reckless rookie like Bullfight. As their unlikely bond deepens, cracks form in the underworld they navigate together. When Hornclaw discovers someone wants her dead, she’s thrust into a deadly game of deception. With enemies closing in and trust in short supply, survival means staying sharp—both blade and mind.
Not Rated. Contains strong graphic violence throughout, language, thematic content, and drug references.
“…surprisingly emotional… Deeper than your average actioner, The Old Woman with the Knife is smart, engaging, and exciting filmmaking with a finale that will get you on the edge of your seat before it breaks your heart.” – Sean Farrell, AFPL Journal
“Far more thoughtful and provocative than your average action-adventure, The Old Woman With the Knife is a thrilling update to the genre, leaving us with a hole in our hearts as the credits roll.” – Jasneet Singh, Collider
“Geriatric killers are nothing new at the movies — think of John Wick, Red or Taken — but The Old Woman with The Knife has a lot more than exhilarating action scenes going on. The way the elderly are regarded and treated underlies much of the storytelling, and there’s an emotional element that’s unexpected for the genre.” – Liz Braun, Original Cin
Idiotka
In West Hollywood’s Russian district, Margarita lives out the American Dream: competing on a reality show. Will she slay, serve, or survive?
Not Rated. Contains strong language, sexual material, and thematic content.
“Popov delivers a boisterous tale of a woman coming into her own, told with real humor and heart.” – Stephen Saito, Variety
“With her feature debut, Popov establishes a bold and playful visual identity that will leave audiences eager for her next project. True to fashion, Idiotka does, indeed, slay, serve, and survive.” – Lauren LaMagna, Next Best Picture
“The feature debut by writer-director Nastasya Popov is certainly messy, a mélange of contrasting tones and contradictory ideas. But darned if it isn’t bursting with enough personality to charm you all the same.” – Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter
Kombucha
Luke Merritt lands a job at the cult-like Symbio Corporation, where a mind-altering kombucha turns employees into hyper-efficient, obedient drones. As the drink erases Luke’s identity, his ex-girlfriend Elyse uncovers the horrific truth: a monstrous Mother at the company’s core producing obedient clones. Racing against time, Elyse must save Luke and destroy the source before Symbio claims him completely.
Not Rated. Contains strong bloody violence, gore, strong language, and thematic material.
“Jake Myers’ Kombucha is a humourful, but sensible, exploration of modern working practices, the perils of giving up on your dreams, and a film to test even the most dedicated kombucha drinker’s resolve.” – Kat Hughes, THN
“All these short, sharp shocks build up to make Kombucha into a biting satire of the horrors of corporate culture. And while not always effective, it’s nevertheless a greatly entertaining time that will put you off of kombucha for a while.” – Jill Vranken, MovieJawn
“Kombucha may be an acquired taste, but this horror-comedy is not. It is an absolute recommendation for fans of the horror and comedy hybrid. A genre-mix, I am a huge fan of.” – Karina Adelgaard, Heaven of Horror
Birdeater
A bride-to-be joins her fiance’s bachelor party in the remote Australian Outback. As the festivities spiral into beer-soaked chaos, uncomfortable details about their relationship are exposed, turning the celebration into a feral nightmare.
Not Rated. Contains violence, bloody images, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity, thematic content, and drug use.
“Directors Jack Clark and Jim Weir deliver an unpredictable and eerie narrative that lingers long after. With its sharp character development and refusal to sanitize its dark themes, this Australian indie is an unsettling yet thrilling watch you won’t forget.” – Alan Ng, Film Threat
“It sits in your chest like a cough you can’t get rid of, and there’s promise in its bones of what might come next for the Aussie directorial duo.” – Maggie Boccella, Collider
“Weir and Clark have crafted an absurdly stylish film that is never content to rest on its ambitious visual scope, burrowing under your skin for an eerie glimpse at how men in their youth form bonds with one another that can slowly spin out of control as time passes.” – Coleman Spilde, The Daily Beast
The Dells
Foreign students on summer work visas staff Wisconsin Dells water parks. While marketed as cultural immersion, it’s also about accessing cheap labor revealing modern America through these young workers’ experiences.
Not Rated.
“I appreciate her incisive documentary about young, foreign workers at the popular Wisconsin vacation destination.” – Kat Sachs, Chicago Reader
“The Dells could stand reasonably well on [its] own as montage, but in this case, [it functions] to complement a more zoomed-out portrait of a Wisconsin vacation town that is undeniably beautiful but complicated, rich in both misery and delight.” – Clara Cuccaro, In Review Online
Neither the Library or its employees receive compensation for inclusion on this list or for links to external websites.
Descriptions taken from studio and / or distributor materials.
Cover image from Jakks Pacific.
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