Movie of the Week

• The Mandalorian and Grogu

Cinemas

• Finding Emily
• Tom & Jerry: Forbidden Compass
• Charlie the Wonderdog
• Passenger
• Eagles of the Republic
• Hen
• The Balloonists
• Fight Like a Girl

Streaming/On-Demand

• Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War
• Ladies First

CAST: Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White, Jonny Coyne, Dave Filoni, Steve Blum, Martin Scorsese, Matthew Willig

CREW: Jon Favreau (director, writer, producer), Dave Filoni and Noah Kloor (writers), Ian Bryce and Kathleen Kennedy (producers), Ludwig Göransson (composer), David Klein (cinematographer), Dylan Firshein and Rachel Goodlett Katz (editors)

PLOT: Following the fall of the Galactic Empire, Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pascal) and his infant apprentice Grogu are enlisted by the New Republic for a daring new mission…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The first Star Wars film in seven years marks the big-screen debut for the galaxy’s greatest masked bounty hunter and, of course, the ever-adorable creature formerly known as Baby Yoda
• Jon Favreau, the creator and showrunner of all three seasons of the hugely popular Disney+ show, directs and co-writes a feature-length adventure worthy of standing alongside the main films in the franchise
• Pedro Pascal pops the helmet back on (and occasionally off) for some awesome one-on-one combat, with franchise newcomers Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White also leaving a huge impression
• Explore worlds old and new as we venture to various corners of the Star Wars universe that have largely been swept under the rug, with some dazzling effects bringing all these environments to life
• It’s an old-fashioned sci-fi blockbuster that will tide over any Star Wars fan until the long-awaited 50th anniversary celebrations next year

The Mandalorian and Grogu is showing in cinemas from Friday 22 May 2026

CAST: Spike Fearn, Angourie Rice, Minnie Driver, Ella Maisy Purvis, Yali Topol Margalith, Kat Ronney, Timothy Innes, Nadia Parkes, Anthony J. Abraham, Scarlett-Mai Grant, Faye Campbell, Tash Major, Carl Blakeley, Julia Rogers, Trudy Akobeng, Fiona Allen, Toby Rothwell, Dalu Thebe, Emily Ash, Hannah Greensmith

CREW: Alicia MacDonald (director), Rachel Hirons (writer), Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Olivier Kaempfer (producers), Morgan Kibby (composer), Rachel Clark (cinematographer), Phil Hignett (editor)

PLOT: One night, music student Owen (Fearn) has a chance encounter with a beautiful girl named Emily (Rogers), but when he is given the wrong number for her, he teams up with American psychology student Sami (Rice) to search across the campus for her…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• A much-needed deconstruction of the classic rom-com dynamic is the main attraction of this charming and funny new offering
• Spike Fearn, previously seen in Alien: Romulus, and Mean Girls (2024) star Angourie Rice make a winning on-screen duo as the latter helps the former find their dream girl
• Director Alicia MacDonald makes her feature debut after impressing with episodes of shows like The Outlaws, Flack and Pure
• Some interesting plot points surrounding gender equality and romantic agency give the film a freshly postmodern edge
• Fans of the classic formula will still find plenty to enjoy as it heads towards a crowd-pleasing conclusion that will have your heart soaring

Finding Emily is showing in cinemas from Friday 22 May 2026

CAST: Eric Bauza, Ben Diskin, Janice Kawaye, Matthew Yang King, Roger Craig Smith, A.J. Beckles, Vincent Tong, Robin Atkin Downes, Jill Talley, Maria Bamford, Lauren Tom, Cristina Pucelli, Aleks Le, Yuri Lowenthal, Erica Lindbeck, James Sie, Piotr Michael, William Hanna

CREW: Zhang Gang (director, writer, producer, editor), Lindsay Katai (writer), Sam Register (producer), Mike Reagan and Vivek Maddala (composers), Bob Boyle and Chen Mengyue (editors)

PLOT: During a chase in a New York museum, Tom the cat (Bauza) and Jerry the mouse (Diskin) come across an ancient magical compass that, upon being accidentally activated, transports them back to Ancient China where they must work together in order to stop a terrifying evil…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• One of the most beloved cartoon duos of all time returns with a brand-new fully animated caper for the whole family
• A co-production with China, the film sends the ever-persistent cat and mouse to the Far East for their biggest adventure yet
• Fans can expect plenty of the usual cartoon slapstick and violence that has defined the duo for over eighty years
• Though the main stars don’t have any dialogue (unlike the infamous 1992 movie), voice artists Eric Bauza and Ben Diskin provide the timeless characters with some lively grunts and noises
• If Chinese animation wasn’t already on the map thanks to the phenomenal success of Ne Zha 2, this will definitely do the job thanks to its use of an instantly recognisable cat and mouse

Tom & Jerry: Forbidden Compass is showing in cinemas from Friday 22 May 2026

CAST: Owen Wilson, Dawson Littman, Ruairi MacDonald, Tabitha St. Germain, Zac Benneth-McPhee, Sebastian Billingsly-Rodriguez, Elishia Perosa, Rhona Rees, Shawn Youngchief, Nicole Bouma, Caitlynne Medrek, Mathew Baldwin

CREW: Shea Wageman (director, writer, producer), Steve Ball and Raul Inglis (writers), Carson Loveday and Jenn Rogan (producers), Petteri Juhani Sainio (composer), Danielle Altura (editor)

PLOT: After being abducted by aliens, a dog named Charlie (Wilson) is given superpowers as well as the ability to speak, but he must rise to the challenge when an evil cat named Puddy (MacDonald) threatens the world with a diabolical plan…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• An all-new breed of superhero is here to save the day in a film that children and adults can enjoy together
• Owen Wilson voices the titular canine with his ever-lovable charm powering the film through its strongest emotional moments
• Its colourful visuals was crafted by ICON Creative Studio, a Canadian outlet that also happens to be the country’s largest independent CG animation company
• Speaking of Canada, one of its brightest musical talents Bryan Adams has also contributed a few original songs to the soundtrack
• With new offerings from both Marvel and DC on the horizon, this should give families their cinematic superhero fix for the half-term holiday

Charlie the Wonderdog is showing in cinemas from Friday 22 May 2026

CAST: Jacob Scipio, Lou Llobell, Melissa Leo, Joseph Lopez

CREW: André Øvredal (director), T.W. Burgess and Zachary Donohue (writers), Gary Dauberman and Walter Hamada (producers), Christopher Young (composer), Federico Verardi (cinematographer), Martin Bernfeld (editor)

PLOT: After witnessing a gruesome accident during a road trip together, young couple Tyler (Scipio) and Maddie (Llobell) soon discover that they’re being stalked by a mysterious demonic presence that they cannot outrun…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• You’ll want to think twice before setting out on the open road after this creepy supernatural horror crawls its way inside your head
• André Øvredal, the director of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, returns to the big screen with an unsettling vision that contains some seriously freaky sights
• It’s going to be a rough journey for young leads Jacob Scipio and Lou Llobell, even if they have Oscar-winner Melissa Leo by their side for some handy exposition
• There are scares around every bend, which keeps the momentum going until it becomes far too unbearable
• Judging by the trailer, which has already startled audiences with its eerie atmosphere, this could well be up there with several other modern horror classics like It Follows

Passenger is showing in cinemas from Friday 22 May 2026

CAST: Fares Fares, Lyna Khoudri, Amr Waked, Zineb Triki, Husam Chadat, Ahmed Khairy, Cherien Dabis, Donia Massoud, Sherwan Haji, Tamim Heikal, Suhaib Nashwan, Tamer Singer, Ahmad Diab, Abdel Fatteh el-Sisi

CREW: Tarik Saleh (director, writer), Johan Lindström, Alexandre Mallet-Guy, Linda Mutawi and Linus Torell (producers), Alexandre Desplat (composer), Pierre Aïm (cinematographer), Theis Schmidt (editor)

PLOT: In Egypt, popular actor George Fahmy (Fares) is forced to participate in a propaganda film about the country’s authoritarian leader Abdel Fattah el-Sisi…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The third and final entry in Swedish-Egyptian filmmaker Tarik Saleh’s “Cairo Trilogy” – after The Nile Hilton Incident and Boy from Heaven – is a damning commentary on governmental control over national media
• Actor Fares Fares, a regular collaborator with Saleh, delivers his most compelling performance yet as an actor strongarmed into leading what is essentially state propaganda
• The film was inspired by a real-life incident where actor Yasser Galal portrayed Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (depicted here via archive footage and a stand-in) on a television show despite no physical resemblance to him whatsoever
• It competed for the Palme D’Or at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, where it went up against similarly anti-regime dramas The Secret Agent and eventual winner It Was Just an Accident
• In addition to being a suspenseful political thriller, it’s also a hugely entertaining caper that exposes the corruption at the heart of Egypt’s so-called democracy

Eagles of the Republic is showing in cinemas from Friday 22 May 2026

CAST: Ioannis Kokiasmenos, Maria Diakopanagioti, Argyris Pantazaras

CREW: György Pálfi (director, writer), Zsófia Ruttkay (writer), Martin Hampel, Thanassis Karathanosk, Giorgos Kiriakos, Kostas Lambropoulos and Effie Skrobolas (producers), Szabolcs Szõke (composer), Giorgos Karvelas (cinematographer), Réka Lemhényi (editor)

PLOT: After escaping from an industrial farm, a Leghorn chicken sets off on an adventure to find a new home, until it stumbles upon a disturbing human conspiracy…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Yes, you read that right: a chicken is the star of this surprisingly intense drama that’s told entirely from the animal’s point of view
• A Greek-Hungarian production, it comes from filmmaker György Pálfi who previously made the internationally recognised body horror Taxidermia
• No fewer than eight Hungarian chickens were used for the starring role, with all human performers functioning largely in the background
• Though the concept invites eccentric humour, it actually invokes some dark tragedies which will shake any viewer to their core
• It’ll make a nice companion piece to the Oscar-nominated Polish film EO, which similarly depicted a bleak story from the perspective of a donkey

Hen is showing in cinemas from Friday 22 May 2026

CAST: Bertrand Piccard, Brian Jones

CREW: John Dower (director), Guy Horlock and Teddy Leifer (producers), Nick Foster and Sam Thompson (composers), Will Pugh (cinematographer), David Charap (editor)

PLOT: In 1999, Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard and British flying instructor Brian Jones embarked on a race to become the first people to fly non-stop around the world in a hot-air balloon…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This awe-inspiring documentary charts a real-life global adventure that Jules Verne would be proud of
• Pioneering figures Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones, as well as their closest friends, relatives and associates, recall the whole story of their once-in-a-lifetime endeavour
• Filmmaker John Dower pieces together archive footage of Piccard and Jones inside their specially-designed craft with on-camera interviews where they share the emotional and psychological toll of their mission
• It also highlights how they were very much underdogs in a pursuit that also attracted the attention of billionaire entrepreneurs like Richard Branson
• Nevertheless, their incredible story is captured in a way that will earn cheers from viewers for its unrelenting optimism and irresistible feel-good factor

The Balloonists is showing in cinemas from Friday 22 May 2026

CAST: Ama Qamata, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Malaika Uwamahoro, Bahali Ruth, Clarck Ntambwe, Arthur Nkusi, Charline Kabuo Chabusiku, Balezi Bagunda, Fernando Kamugisha, Blandine Florence, Aline Amike, Mugabo Rwiririza Remy

CREW: Matthew Leutwyler (director, writer, editor), Yvette Gayle, Serge Ibaka, Anton Laines and Innocent Munyeshuri (producers), Coby Brown (composer), Richard Henkels (cinematographer)

PLOT: Two years after being kidnapped and forced to work in an illegal Congolese mineral mine, 19-year-old Safi (Qamata) escapes to the city of Goma in search of a new life, where she soon takes up an empowering career as a female boxer…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• There’s more to this boxing drama than the sports, for it also tells a powerful tale of survival that packs a different kind of punch
• Filmmaker Matthew Leutwyler takes heavy inspiration from the true story of boxer Clarck Ntambwe and her coach Balezi Bagunda, both of whom also act in the film as supporting characters
• The core cast is largely made up of non-professional actors from East Congo, including numerous female boxers whom Leutwyler directs with a sharp naturalism
• Production was troubled by the growing conflict between the country’s military and M23 rebels, and when the latter attacked the city of Goma in January 2025, Bagunda was killed whilst helping Leutwyler evacuate children from a besieged orphanage
• This tragedy makes it all the more important that this story is given as wide an audience as possible, as it Trojan-horses some severe humanitarian issues into a seemingly straightforward sports drama

Fight Like a Girl is showing in cinemas from Friday 22 May 2026

CAST: John Krasinski, Wendell Pierce, Michael Kelly, Betty Gabriel, Sienna Miller, Mckenna Bridger, Max Beesley, Douglas Hodge, JJ Feild

CAST: Andrew Bernstein (director), John Krasinski (writer, producer), Aaron Rabin (writer), Allyson Seeger (producer), Ramin Djawadi and William Marriott (composers), Arnau Valls Colomer (cinematographer), Jason Ballantine (editor)

PLOT: Former CIA operative Jack Ryan (Krasinski) is recruited to navigate a deceitful web of betrayal against an enemy that is always several steps ahead…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Tom Clancy’s most famous creation returns once more in the sixth overall movie to feature the heroic character of Jack Ryan
• It is a continuation of Prime Video’s successful TV series that featured John Krasinski in the title role, the fifth actor to adopt the part after the likes of Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck and Chris Pine
• Krasinski and fellow series regulars Wendell Pierce, Michael Kelly and Betty Gabriel all reprise their roles from the series, with Sienna Miller being one of a few fiery new additions
• In addition to starring and producing, Krasinski also co-wrote the screenplay with Aaron Rabin (who also worked on the series) from a screen story by A House of Dynamite screenwriter Noah Oppenheim
• Fans can expect plenty of explosive action to go alongside the intriguing espionage thrills, all of which should solidify why Krasinski is fast becoming the definitive interpretation of the character

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War is streaming exclusively on Prime Video from Wednesday 20 May 2026

CAST: Sacha Baron Cohen, Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, Emily Mortimer, Charles Dance, Fiona Shaw, Tom Davis, Weruche Opia, Kathryn Hunter

CREW: Thea Sharrock (director), Natalie Krinsky, Cinco Paul and Katie Silberman (writers), Liza Chasin, Eleonore Dailly and Edouard de Lachomette (producers), Haris Zambarloukos (cinematographer), Mark Everson (editor)

PLOT: David (Cohen) is a chauvinist businessman who, after an accident, suddenly finds himself transported to a parallel world where women are at the top of the hierarchy, forcing him to work with his female counterpart Alex (Pike) to change his ways…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Gender politics are given a proper kick in the balls (or female equivalent to balls) in a hilarious and biting satire that reframes the classic battle of the sexes
• Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike make an intriguing team with a swapped dynamic that earns plenty of laughs from their imbalanced chemistry
• Thea Sharrock, who previously directed Oscar winners Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley to sweary lengths in Wicked Little Letters, has fun playing around with the idea of all-powerful matriarchy
• The film is actually a remake of the French comedy I Am Not an Easy Man, which was the first French-language film to be commissioned by Netflix back in 2018
• It’s bound to stir up all-new conversations about gender inequality among audiences, after they’ve laughed themselves silly from all the wild escapades it throws at them

Ladies First is streaming exclusively on Netflix from Friday 22 May 2026