7Movies Everyone’s Talking About This Week – And Which Ones Are Actually Worth It

 

[Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal in “Eddington.”Credit...Richard Foreman/A24]

Whether you're in the mood for surreal Smurfs or a queer love story with a twist, this week’s new movie releases cover every cinematic craving imaginable — from westerns to drag drama to animated nostalgia gone wild. Here’s a roundup of what the critics are saying, and what might be worth your box office bucks.

1. Eddington
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal
Genre: Contemporary Western
Vibe: 2020 pandemic tensions meet cowboy grit
Critics are raving about Eddington, calling it a hilarious and unsettling reflection on recent history. If you can stomach reliving the chaos of 2020, this might just be the kind of therapy-through-art you didn’t know you needed.

2. I Know What You Did Last Summer (Reboot)
Starring: Madelyn Cline, Jennifer Love Hewitt
Genre: Teen Horror
Vibe: Nostalgia overkill with a dull blade
Despite an iconic legacy and a cameo by Hewitt herself, critics feel the film trips over its own memories. If you were hoping for scares, expect more eye-rolls than screams.

[Madelyn Cline in “I Know What You Did Last Summer.”Credit...Brook Rushton/Sony Pictures]

3. Cloud
Starring: Masaki Suda
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Vibe: Digital dystopia with a bloody, brilliant edge
Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa explores humanity’s darker instincts in the internet age. It’s genre-bending, weirdly funny, and deeply unsettling — just how we like it.

[Masaki Suda in “Cloud.”Credit...Sideshow and Janus Films]

4. Smurfs
Voices by: Rihanna, James Corden, Nick Offerman
Genre: Animated Adventure
Vibe: Surrealist Smurf trip with a history lesson
Smurfette (voiced by Rihanna!) leads a wild rescue mission that’s more psychedelic than your typical kiddie fare. Adults might be more entertained than the kids this time.

[From left, Ken (Nick Offerman), Hefty Smurf (Alex Winter), Smurfette (Rihanna), No Name (James Corden) and Brainy Smurf (Xolo Maridueña) in “Smurfs.”Credit...Paramount Animation]

5. Finally Dawn
Starring: Lily James, Joe Keery
Genre: Italian Drama
Vibe: A dreamy blend of old-school glam and soul
Set in 1950s Rome, this one is a slow-burn about a young woman entering the glitzy yet hollow world of cinema. Italy wins, Hollywood loses — according to the critics.

[Joe Keery and Lily James in “Finally Dawn.”Credit...Samuel Goldwyn Films]

6. No Sleep Till
Starring: Brynne Hofbauer
Genre: Naturalistic Indie
Vibe: Hurricane boredom with a dose of dread
It’s subtle, realistic, and sometimes a bit too quiet. But if you’re in the mood for a calm-before-the-storm kind of film that lingers in its silences, this might work.

[Brynne Hofbauer in “No Sleep Till,” written and directed by Alexandra Simpson.Credit...Factory 25]

7. Unicorns
Starring: Ben Hardy, Jason Patel
Genre: Queer Romance/Drama
Vibe: A tender, messy, heartfelt story about identity
This is one for the lovers and the dreamers. Critics praise its nuanced romance and sexual awakening storyline — even if the plot doesn’t always stick the landing.

[From left, Jason Patel as Aysha and Ben Hardy as Luke in “Unicorns.”Credit...Unicorns Film Production Limited]

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🎬 Which of these movies are you excited to watch — or avoid like a rebooted killer in a raincoat?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below. Let’s talk cinema!

📌 ~BILLY JAYDEN LOUIS
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Sources:
New York Times Movie Reviews – July 18, 2025