BBC apologises after racial slur aired from BAFTAs audience member with Tourette syndrome - while political speech is edited down
The incident had previously been addressed on stage by host Alan Cumming.
The BBC has issued an apology after a racial slur was heard during last night's broadcast of the BAFTA Film Awards from Royal Festival Hall on Sunday (22 February). The comments by audience member John Davidson, who suffers from a form of Tourette’s syndrome that includes uncontrollable vocal tics, were made while Sinners stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting the first award of the night. BAFTAs host Alan Cumming addressed the incident shortly afterwards, explaining to viewers: "You may have noticed some strong language in the background. "This can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people as the film [I Swear] explores that experience. Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone." I Swear, which won two awards on the night, tells the true story of Davidson, a man living with a form of Tourette's which includes coprolalia, defined as involuntary swearing or the utterance of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks. Later in the ceremony, the presenter provided further context. He said: "Tourette’s Syndrome is a disability and the tics you’ve heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette’s Syndrome has no control over their language. We apologise if you are offended tonight." A BBC spokesperson told Radio Times: "Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional. “We apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer." Speaking to Vanity Fair after the ceremony, Lindo said that he and Jordan “did what we had to do” while presenting the category, but that he wished “someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterwards”. In a statement, BAFTA said it acknowledged the “harm this has caused, address what happened and apologise to all”. Davidson, a Tourette’s campaigner from Scotland, who was made an MBE in 2019, said on Monday in a statement that he was "deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning". He continued: "I have spent my life trying to support and empower the Tourette's community and to teach empathy, kindness and understanding from others and I will continue to do so. "I chose to leave the auditorium early into the ceremony as I was aware of the distress my tics were causing." The statement from BAFTA also said: "We take the duty of care to all our guests very seriously and start from a position of inclusion. We took measures to make those in attendance aware of the tics, announcing to the audience before the ceremony began, and throughout, that John was in the room and that they may hear strong language, involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony. "Early in the ceremony a loud tic in the form of a profoundly offensive term was heard by many people in the room. Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage at the time, and we apologise unreservedly to them, and to all those impacted. We would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism." BAFTA also thanked John for “his dignity and consideration of others, on what should have been a night of celebration for him”. “We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation and we apologise to all. We will learn from this, and keep inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy.” The decision of the BBC to air the remarks has come under scrutiny. The ceremony is broadcast on a two-hour delay rather than live – meaning there was an option to edit out the slurs. This criticism has been exacerbated due to the fact that other parts of the ceremony were censored. The acceptance speech of Akinola Davies Jr – who won the award for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer category for his film My Father's Shadow – was significantly cut. During his speech, Davies Jr drew attention to various geopolitical issues and dedicated his award to "all those whose parents migrated to obtain a better life for their children." <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/GettyImages-2263000105-22abbb4.jpg" width="7980" height="5320" alt="Akinola Davies Jr accepts the Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer award for My Father's Shadow on stage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026 in London, England." title="Photo by Stuart Wilson/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA" /> He added: "To the economic migrant. The conflict migrant. Those under occupation, dictatorship, persecution, and those experiencing genocide. You matter. Your stories matter more than ever. Your dreams are an act of resistance to those watching at home. "Archive your loved ones. Archive your stories yesterday, today, and forever. For Nigeria, for London, the Congo, Sudan, free Palestine." This entire part of the speech was omitted from the BBC's broadcast, with the corporation issuing a statement explaining that the decision was "made to ensure the programme was delivered to time". The statement read: "The live event is three hours and it has to be reduced to two hours for its on-air slot. The same happened to other speeches made during the night." Meanwhile, it was also made clear that all winners' speeches would be available to watch in full via BAFTA's YouTube channel. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The acclaimed film about John Davidson – a Scottish campaigner with Tourette's Syndrome – earned two BAFTA Film Awards including best actor for Robert Aramayo.
One of the highlights of this year's BAFTA Film Awards was the surprise best actor win for I Swear star Robert Aramayo – who also won the rising star award at the ceremony at London's Royal Festival Hall. Although the actor's performance had been hugely acclaimed, he was expected to be beaten to the prize by one of his starry fellow nominees, most likely Oscar-frontrunner Timothée Chalamet for his turn in Marty Supreme. In fact, during his emotional acceptance speech, even Aramayo himself seemed in total shock. "I absolutely can't believe this," he said. "I honestly cannot believe I have won this award. Everyone in this category blows me away." It proved to be a popular win with both the live audience – not least Aramayo's jubilant father – and the viewers at home, many of whom had been profoundly moved by the actor's tremendous performance in I Swear. The film was written and directed by Kirk Jones and sees Aramayo taking on the role of real-life Tourette's syndrome campaigner John Davidson, who was also an executive producer on the project. Aramayo magnificently inhabits the central role, with the film shining a light on Tourette's with sensitivity, humour and heart, helping audiences to better understand a condition which is still often misrepresented. "I didn't know anything about John," Aramayo told Radio Times of at the time of the film's release last October. "It was only afterwards I found out that he's, like, enormously famous. Which is probably a good thing!" He added: "[But] as soon as I met him, it felt grounded within me, it felt like something that I should be doing. It was an amazing opportunity and it was terrifying and the most difficult thing that I've ever done, but I knew that it was right to give it my best go." If you've not yet seen the film and wish to learn more about the condition – especially in light of the events at last night's ceremony – or perhaps just want to watch a great, empathetic and uplifting movie you might be wondering where you can catch I Swear on the big or small screen. Read on for everything you need to know. How to watch I Swear – is it streaming? Despite I Swear's original release having been all the way back in October 2025, the awards attention has meant a few cinemas are still showing the film – although screenings aren't especially plentiful. Check your local cinema times to see if there are showings near you. Meanwhile, at the moment, the best way of watching the film is via digital download. It's available to rent and buy on a number of premium video on demand platforms including YouTube, Prime Video and Google Play, with prices starting from £3.49. But you might want to hold off on parting with any cash just yet, as some news on a new streaming account has recently been announced. Is I Swear coming to Netflix? Yes! On Monday 23 February – the morning after Aramayo's big BAFTA win – Netflix confirmed that the film would be arriving on the streamer in the very near future. I Swear will be available to stream on the platform for all subscribers in the UK and Ireland from Tuesday 10 March. So not long to wait at all! View oEmbed on the source website I Swear review – Is the award-winning film worth watching? In our official Radio Times review, we awarded the film three stars in a largely very positive write-up. You can find our full review below: John Davidson, a young man with Tourette syndrome, became an unlikely TV personality in the late 1980s when, aged 16, he was the focus of John’s Not Mad, a BBC documentary examining the condition. This feel-good but inevitably foul-mouthed drama tells a deeper story, with Davidson (played by Robert Aramayo) now in his 20s and trying to make his way in the adult world. Still mocked and ridiculed by some, he finds more supportive figures in Maxine Peake’s straight-shooting mental health nurse and Peter Mullan’s avuncular caretaker boss. Writer/director Kirk Jones skilfully weaves comedy and drama together, never losing sight of the subject matter’s seriousness (Davidson, now a campaigner, is credited as a consultant), but occasionally lapses into a mawkishness that threatens to undermine the message. Nevertheless, he benefits from a strong and sympathetic cast, with both Peake and Mullan close to the very top of their game. In Aramayo, however, he has a breakout star, an actor whose range of emotions provides the beating heart of a film destined to find a legion of fans. – Terry Staunton I Swear cast – who stars alongside BAFTA winner Robert Aramayo? Aramayo wasn't the only member of the cast to be nominated at the BAFTA Film Awards, with his co-star Peter Mullan having been up for best supporting actor – although he was beaten in that category by One Battle After Another's Sean Penn. Meanwhile, the film's casting director Lauren Evans also won the award for best casting. Other big names in the ensemble included Maxine Peake and Shirley Henderson, while newcomer Scott Ellis Watson impressed as the younger version of John Davidson. You can find a cast list below: Robert Aramayo plays John Davidson Scott Ellis Watson as a young John Davidson Maxine Peake plays Dottie Achenbach Shirley Henderson plays Heather Davidson Peter Mullan plays Tommy Trotter Sanjeev Kohli plays Shopkeeper Ron Donachie plays Headmaster Steven Cree plays David Davidson Paul Donnelly plays Billy Dean Douglas Rankine plays Doctor Colin Hargreaves Adam McNamara plays PC/Inspector MacCullen David Carlyle plays Chris Achenbach Anthony Capaldi plays Andy Andrea Bisset plays Lucy Francesco Piacentini-Smith plays Murray Louise Stewart plays Caroline Leah MacRae plays Mrs Robinson Christina Modestou plays Alison Catriona McArthur plays Sharon Davidson I Swear trailer If you've still not been convinced whether to watch the film or not, perhaps the trailer below will convince you. It certainly gives a good idea of Aramayo's magnificent lead performance. View Green Video on the source website Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Wuthering Heights soundtrack 2026: Every song from Charli xcx
There have been multiple adaptations of Emily Brontë's novel Wuthering Heights over the years. The latest comes from Saltburn filmmaker Emerald Fennell, who looks at the Gothic tale through a modern lens, with a cast featuring Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, anachronistic costumes, and an overtly erotic tone. The new film also features a modern soundtrack penned by pop superstar and 'brat summer' architect Charli xcx and, while much of the movie has prompted backlash from fans and critics due to its deviation from the source material, the album is one element of the film that has received overwhelmingly positive reactions. The album features plenty of autotune, strange and experimental noises, and also includes collaborations with Welsh musician John Cale and US singer Sky Ferreira. Want to know more about the songs Charli is contributing to the film and how you can listen to them? Read on for everything we know about the film’s soundtrack. Who composed the Wuthering Heights soundtrack? The film's score has been composed by Anthony Willis,. Willis previously collaborated with Fennell on Promising Young Woman and Saltburn. How to listen to the Wuthering Heights 2026 soundtrack Charli's album is available on music streaming platforms including Amazon Music and Spotify. The album is also available to buy on CD and vinyl from Amazon. You can also get your hands on a collector's edition here. Wuthering Heights 2026 soundtrack: Full list of songs from Charli xcx <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/03/GettyImages-2197337640-d76348d.jpg" width="5655" height="3770" alt="LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 02: Charli XCX (C) performs onstage during the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)" title="67th Annual GRAMMY Awards - Show" /> Charli's album feature 12 original songs in total, with the official track list announced in February just before the release of the film. You can find the full list below: All tracks written by Charli xcx except where stated House (feat John Cale) – written by Charli xcx, John Cale, Finn Keane & Nathan Klein Wall of Sound – written by Charli xcx & Finn Keane Dying for You – written by Charli xcx, Finn Keane & Justin Raisen Always Everywhere – written by Charli xcx, Finn Keane, Lewis Pesacov & Justin Raisen Chains of Love – written by Charli xcx, Finn Keane & Justin Raisen Out of Myself Open Up – written by Charli xcx & Finn Keane Seeing Things Altars – Written by Charli xcx, Finn Keane & Justin Raisen Eyes of the World (feat Sky Ferreira) My Reminder Funny Mouth – written by Charli xcx, Finn Keane & Joe Keery Charli shared three tracks from the album ahead of the film's release – and got everyone talking. In early November, she dropped House, an eerie new song featuring The Velvet Underground’s John Cale. The track features some autotune as well as industrial sounds, with Cale’s voice appearing as a spoken word poem before the pair repeat the central refrain of “I think I’m gonna die in this house” – a refrain which quickly became a trending sound on TikTok. Later in November, Charli then shared another preview of her album with the new song Chains of Love. The track also features in the trailer for the movie, which you can watch below: View Green Video on the source website Meanwhile, a third single – Wall of Sound – followed in January 2026. Opening up about the inspiration behind the soundtrack, the singer previously wrote in a statement on Instagram Stories: “I got a call from Emerald Fennell last Christmas asking whether I would consider working on a song for her adaptation of Wuthering Heights." She continued: “After being so in the depths of my previous album I was excited to escape into something entirely new, entirely opposite. When I think of Wuthering Heights I think of many things. I think of passion and pain. I think of England. I think of the Moors, I think of the mud and the cold. I think of determination and grit.” Charli also said in her statement that she reached out to Cale after his quote from a Velvet Underground documentary – in which he said there was a need for the band’s songs to be both “elegant and brutal” – stayed with her. Charli wrote: “I got really stuck on that phrase. I wrote it down in my notes app and would pull it up from time to time and think about what he meant.” So Charli decided to reach out to him and they ended up collaborating. “That voice, so elegant, so brutal. I sent him some songs, and we started talking specifically about House," she added. She continued: "We spoke about the idea of a poem. He recorded something and sent it to me. Something that only John could do. "And it was… well, it made me cry. I feel so lucky to have been able to work with John on this song. I’ve been so excited to share it with you all, sitting quietly in anticipation.” Wuthering Heights is out now in UK cinemas. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Wuthering Heights cast: Full guide to actors in Emerald Fennell's adaptation
Elordi stars as Heathcliff, while Margot Robbie plays Cathy.
Emily Brontë's 1847 novel Wuthering Heights has inspired many adaptations over the years on stage and screen, and beyond, from the 1996 musical starring Cliff Richard to Kate Bush's 1978 hit song. The latest take on the Gothic tale comes from Saltburn filmmaker Emerald Fennell, which was released in cinemas on Valentine's Day. In Fennell's retelling of the relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and orphan Heathcliff, Margot Robbie takes on the role of the former, while Jacob Elordi portrays the latter. The casting is one of many elements in the film that has prompted backlash, with many fans unhappy with the movie for aging up the characters, who are teenagers for much of the book's plot (Jacob Elordi is 28 and Margot Robbie is 35), as well as for removing Heathcliff’s non-white background. Responding to backlash around Margot's casting, Fennell previously told British Vogue: "It’s difficult to find that supersized star power. Margot comes with big dick energy. That’s what Cathy needs." Talking about Elordi's casting, Robbie added: "I saw him play Heathcliff. And he is Heathcliff. I’d say, just wait. Trust me, you’ll be happy." She added: "It’s a character that has this lineage of other great actors who’ve played him, from Laurence Olivier to Richard Burton and Ralph Fiennes to Tom Hardy. To be a part of that is special. He’s incredible and I believe in him so much. "I honestly think he’s our generation’s Daniel Day-Lewis." Want to know more about the cast and where you've seen them before? Read on for everything you need to know about the stars of Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights. Wuthering Heights cast 2026: Full guide to actors and characters View Green Video on the source website Below is the main cast list for Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Wuthering Heights. Read on to find out more about the cast and characters. Margot Robbie as Catherine "Cathy" Earnshaw Charlotte Mellington as young Catherine Earnshaw Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff Owen Cooper as young Heathcliff Hong Chau as Nelly Dean Vy Nguyen as young Nelly Dean Shazad Latif as Edgar Linton Alison Oliver as Isabella Linton Martin Clunes as Mr Earnshaw Ewan Mitchell as Joseph Margot Robbie plays Catherine Earnshaw Who is Catherine Earnshaw? Catherine is the daughter of the Earnshaws, who forms a close bond with Heathcliff, but who marries another man. Where have I seen Margot Robbie before? Robbie is an Oscar-nominated actress known for her roles in major films including Barbie, Babylon, Amsterdam, Bombshell, Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, Mary Queen of Scots, I, Tonya, The Wolf of Wall Street and About Time, as well as for playing Harley Quinn in the DCEU. She first came to prominence for playing Donna in Neighbours. Jacob Elordi plays Heathcliff Who is Heathcliff? Heathcliff is a young man who was discovered as an orphaned, homeless child by Mr Earnshaw, who took him into his family home, Wuthering Heights. He falls in love with his foster sister Catherine. Where have I seen Jacob Elordi before? Elordi is known for playing Nate in Euphoria, as well as for starring in films such as Saltburn, Priscilla, Deep Water and the trilogy of The Kissing Booth movies. He was recently Oscar-nominated for his role as Frankenstein's monster in Giullermo del Toro's adaptation of Frankenstein. Shazad Latif plays Edgar Linton Who is Edgar Linton? The man who Catherine marries – kickstarting a bitter rivalry between he and Heathcliff, whom he despises. Where have I seen Shazad Latif before? His credits include Star Trek: Discovery, Nautilus, The Pursuit of Love, Penny Dreadful, Toast of London and Spooks – while he had a memorable role as Clem Fandango in sitcom Toast of London. Ewan Mitchell plays Joseph Who is Joseph? The long-serving, cantankerous servant at Wuthering Heights. Where have I seen Ewan Mitchell before? Mitchell is known for his roles as Prince Aemond Targaryen in House of the Dragon, Osferth in The Last Kingdom and Tom Bennett in World on Fire. Film credits include High Life and Saltburn. Martin Clunes plays Mr Earnshaw Who is Mr Earnshaw? Cathy's father, who initially takes Heathcliff in after saving him on the streets. In this film – unlike the book – he soon starts treating the boy roughly. Where have I seen Martin Clunes before? Clunes is best known for his roles in series including Men Behaving Badly, Doc Martin, Kipper, Fungus the Bogeyman, William and Mary, Reggie Perrin, The Town, Vanity Fair and Warren, while he has also appeared in films such as Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey?!. Later in 2026 he'll be starring as disgraced BBC News presenter Huw Edwards in a two-part factual drama. Alison Oliver plays Isabella Linton Who is Isabella Linton? Edgar's adoring sister, who emerges as a possible match for Heathcliff. Where have I seen Alison Oliver before? Oliver has had roles in series including Conversations with Friends and Best Interests, as well as films such as Saltburn and The Order. She recently starred alongside Mark Ruffalo in HBO drama Task. Hong Chau plays Nelly Dean Who is Nelly Dean? A housemaid to – at various points – both the Earnshaw and Linton families and a key observer to the events. In the original novel, Nelly serves as the narrator and she has been given a new backstory in this version. Where have I seen Hong Chau before? Chau has had small screen roles in shows such as Watchmen,Homecoming and The Night Agent, while film credits include Downsizing, The Menu and The Whale – the latter of which earned her as Oscar nomination. Owen Cooper plays young Heathcliff Where have I seen Owen Cooper before? Cooper shot to fame for his hugely acclaimed role in Adolescence, which has seen him showered with all sorts of accolades, including a Golden Globe. Charlotte Mellington plays young Catherine Earnshaw Where have I seen Charlotte Mellington before? This is the young actress's screen debut. Vy Nguyen plays young Nelly Dean Where have I seen Vy Nguyen before? Wuthering Heights is Nguyen's first major credit. Wuthering Heights is available to watch in cinemas now. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
BAFTA Film Awards winners 2026: Full list as One Battle After Another wins amid some surprise results
The awards took place tonight at London's Royal Festival Hall.
One Battle After Another was the big winner at the BAFTA Film Awards in London's Royal Festival Hall last night – with Paul Thomas Anderson's hugely acclaimed film taking six awards including best film. The glittering ceremony was hosted by Alan Cumming and included a range of big name guests including the singing stars of K-Pop Demon Hunters and a special appearance from Paddington Bear, while Hamnet, Sinners and Frankenstein were among the other films to score multiple wins. Meanwhile, in perhaps the biggest surprise of the night, I Swear star Robert Aramayo was named best actor ahead of favourite Timothée Chalamet, having already won the BAFTA rising star award earlier in the evening. Aramayo's win wasn't the only upset in the acting categories, with Sinners star Wunmi Mosaku winning best supporting actress and One Battle After Another's Sean Penn best supporting actor. However, as had been expected, it was Jessie Buckley who won best leading actress for her turn in Hamnet. Elsewhere, there were wins for Akinola Davies Jr's My Father's Shadow in the outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer category and for Sentimental Value in film not in the English language. Read below for the full list of nominees and winners. BAFTA Film Awards winners 2026: Full list of winners as they are announced Best film Hamnet Marty Supreme One Battle After Another — WINNER Sentimental Value Sinners Outstanding British film 28 Years Later The Ballad of Wallis Island Bridget Jones: Mad about the Boy Die My Love H Is For Hawk Hamnet — WINNER I Swear Mr Burton Pillion Steve Leading actress Jessie Buckley – Hamnet — WINNER Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I'd Kick You Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value Emma Stone – Bugonia Leading actor <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/GettyImages-2263012020-c790826.jpg" width="3670" height="2576" alt="Robert Aramayo accepts the Leading Actor Award for 'I Swear' on stage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026 in London, England." title="Robert Aramayo accepts the Leading Actor Award for 'I Swear' on stage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026 in London, England." /> Robert Aramayo – I Swear — WINNER Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon Michael B Jordan – Sinners Jesse Plemons – Bugonia Supporting actress Odessa A'zion – Marty Supreme Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners — WINNER Carey Mulligan – The Ballad of Wallis Island Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another Emily Watson – Hamnet Supporting actor Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein Paul Mescal – Hamnet Peter Mullan – I Swear Sean Penn – One Battle After Another — WINNER Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value Director <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/GettyImages-2263009920-7374b32.jpg" width="8073" height="5382" alt="Paul Thomas Anderson accepts the Director Award for 'One Battle After Another' on stage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026 in London, England." title="Paul Thomas Anderson accepts the Director Award for 'One Battle After Another' on stage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026 in London, England." /> Yorgos Lanthimos – Bugonia Chloé Zhao – Hamnet Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another — WINNER Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value Ryan Coogler – Sinners Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer The Ceremony My Father's Shadow — WINNER Pillion A Want In Her Wasteman Film not in the English language It Was Just An Accident The Secret Agent Sentimental Value — WINNER Sirât The Voice of Hind Rajab Documentary View Green Video on the source website 2000 Meters to Andriivka Apocalypse in the Tropics Cover-Up Mr Nobody Against Putin — WINNER The Perfect Neighbour Animated film Elio Little Amélie or the Character of Rain Zootropolis 2 — WINNER Children's and family film Arco Boong — WINNER Lilo & Stitch Zootropolis 2 Original screenplay <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/GettyImages-2262996034-bf246b5.jpg" width="7636" height="5090" alt="Ryan Coogler accepts the Original Screenplay Award for 'Sinners' on stage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026 in London, England." title="Ryan Coogler accepts the Original Screenplay Award for 'Sinners' on stage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026 in London, England." /> I Swear Marty Supreme The Secret Agent Sentimental Value Sinners — WINNER Adapted screenplay The Ballad of Wallis Island Bugonia Hamnet One Battle After Another — WINNER Pillion EE Bafta rising star award (voted for by the public) Robert Aramayo — I Swear — WINNER Miles Caton — Sinners Chase Infiniti — One Battle After Another Archie Madekwe — Lurker Posy Sterling — Lollipop Original score View Green Video on the source website Jerskin Fendrix – Bugonia Alexandre Desplat – Frankenstein Max Richter – Hamnet Jonny Greenwood – One Battle After Another Ludwig Göransson – Sinners – WINNER Casting I Swear – WINNER Marty Supreme One Battle After Another Sentimental Value Sinners Cinematography Frankenstein Marty Supreme One Battle After Another – WINNER Sinners Train Dreams Costume design Frankenstein — WINNER Hamnet Marty Supreme Sinners Wicked: For Good Editing F1 A House of Dynamite Marty Supreme One Battle After Another — WINNER Sinners Production design Frankenstein — WINNER Hamnet Marty Supreme One Battle After Another Sinners Make-up and hair Frankenstein — WINNER Hamnet Marty Supreme Sinners Wicked: For Good Sound View Green Video on the source website F1 – WINNER Frankenstein One Battle After Another Sinners Warfare Special visual effects Avatar: Fire and Ash – WINNER F1 Frankenstein How to Train Your Dragon The Lost Bus British short film Magid / Zafar Nostalgie Terence This Is Endometriosis – WINNER Welcome Home Freckles British short animation Cardboard Solstice Two Black Boys in Paradise – WINNER
One Battle After Another was the big winner at the BAFTA Film Awards at London's Royal Festival Hall tonight (Sunday 22nd February) – with Paul Thomas Anderson's hugely acclaimed film taking six awards including best film. The glittering ceremony was hosted by Alan Cumming and included a range of big name guests including the singing stars of K-Pop Demon Hunters and a special appearance from Paddington Bear, while Hamnet, Sinners and Frankenstein were among the other films to score multiple wins. Meanwhile, in perhaps the biggest surprise of the night, I Swear star Robert Aramayo was named best actor ahead of favourite Timothée Chalamet, having already won the BAFTA rising star award earlier in the evening. Aramayo's win wasn't the only upset in the acting categories, with Sinners star Wunmi Mosaku winning best supporting actress and One Battle After Another's Sean Penn best supporting actor. However, as had been expected, it was Jessie Buckley who won best leading actress for her turn in Hamnet. Elsewhere, there were wins for Akinola Davies Jr's My Father's Shadow in the outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer category and for Sentimental Value in film not in the English language. Read below for the full list of nominees and winners. BAFTA Film Awards winners 2026: Full list of winners as they are announced Best film Hamnet Marty Supreme One Battle After Another – WINNER Sentimental Value Sinners Outstanding British film 28 Years Later The Ballad of Wallis Island Bridget Jones: Mad about the Boy Die My Love H Is For Hawk Hamnet – WINNER I Swear Mr Burton Pillion Steve Leading actress Jessie Buckley – Hamnet – WINNER Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I'd Kick You Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value Emma Stone – Bugonia Leading actor <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/GettyImages-2263012020-c790826.jpg" width="3670" height="2576" alt="Robert Aramayo accepts the Leading Actor Award for 'I Swear' on stage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026 in London, England." title="Robert Aramayo accepts the Leading Actor Award for 'I Swear' on stage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026 in London, England." /> Robert Aramayo – I Swear – WINNER Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon Michael B Jordan – Sinners Jesse Plemons – Bugonia Supporting actress Odessa A'zion – Marty Supreme Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners – WINNER Carey Mulligan – The Ballad of Wallis Island Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another Emily Watson – Hamnet Supporting actor Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein Paul Mescal – Hamnet Peter Mullan – I Swear Sean Penn – One Battle After Another – WINNER Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value Director <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/GettyImages-2263009920-7374b32.jpg" width="8073" height="5382" alt="Paul Thomas Anderson accepts the Director Award for 'One Battle After Another' on stage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026 in London, England." title="Paul Thomas Anderson accepts the Director Award for 'One Battle After Another' on stage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026 in London, England." /> Yorgos Lanthimos – Bugonia Chloé Zhao – Hamnet Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another – WINNER Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value Ryan Coogler – Sinners Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer The Ceremony My Father's Shadow – WINNER Pillion A Want In Her Wasteman Film not in the English language It Was Just An Accident The Secret Agent Sentimental Value – WINNER Sirât The Voice of Hind Rajab Documentary View Green Video on the source website 2000 Meters to Andriivka Apocalypse in the Tropics Cover-Up Mr Nobody Against Putin – WINNER The Perfect Neighbor Animated film Elio Little Amélie Zootropolis 2 – WINNER Children's and family film Arco Boong – WINNER Lilo & Stitch Zootropolis 2 Original screenplay <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/GettyImages-2262996034-bf246b5.jpg" width="7636" height="5090" alt="Ryan Coogler accepts the Original Screenplay Award for 'Sinners' on stage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026 in London, England." title="Ryan Coogler accepts the Original Screenplay Award for 'Sinners' on stage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026 in London, England." /> I Swear Marty Supreme The Secret Agent Sentimental Value Sinners – WINNER Adapted screenplay The Ballad of Wallis Island Bugonia Hamnet One Battle After Another – WINNER Pillion EE Bafta rising star award (voted for by the public) Robert Aramayo – WINNER Miles Caton Chase Infiniti Archie Madekwe Posy Sterling Original score View Green Video on the source website Jerskin Fendrix – Bugonia Alexandre Desplat – Frankenstein Max Richter – Hamnet Jonny Greenwood – One Battle After Another Ludwig Göransson – Sinners – WINNER Casting I Swear – WINNER Marty Supreme One Battle After Another Sentimental Value Sinners Cinematography Frankenstein Marty Supreme One Battle After Another – WINNER Sinners Train Dreams Costume design Frankenstein – WINNER Hamnet Marty Supreme Sinners Wicked: For Good Editing F1 A House of Dynamite Marty Supreme One Battle After Another – WINNER Sinners Production design Frankenstein – WINNER Hamnet Marty Supreme One Battle After Another Sinners Make-up and hair Frankenstein – WINNER Hamnet Marty Supreme Sinners Wicked: For Good Sound View Green Video on the source website F1 – WINNER Frankenstein One Battle After Another Sinners Warfare Special visual effects Avatar: Fire and Ash – WINNER F1 Frankenstein How to Train Your Dragon The Lost Bus British short film Magid / Zafar Nostalgie Terence This Is Endometriosis – WINNER Welcome Home Freckles British short animation Cardboard Solstice Two Black Boys in Paradise – WINNER Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
British actor takes BAFTA 2026 Film Award in biggest ‘upset’ - and dad’s reaction is moment of the night
The star beat the likes of Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio to secure a very well deserved best leading actor award.
There was a major surprise at tonight's BAFTA Film Awards as Robert Aramayo took home the best leading actor award, ahead of major Hollywood stars including Marty Supreme's Timothée Chalamet and One Battle After Another's Leonardo DiCaprio. The British actor – a thoroughly deserving winner for his superb turn in I Swear – had already won the EE rising star award at the ceremony before his name was announced as the winner in the leading actor category by US actress Kerry Washington. And a tearful Aramayo appeared more taken aback by anyone that he had beaten the star-studded competition to the award. "I absolutely can't believe this," he explained during his memorable speech. "I honestly cannot believe I have won this award. Everyone in this category blows me away." Meanwhile, the passionate reaction from his father, whom Aramayo had previously thanked during his first acceptance speech of the night, was one of the moments of the night, as he celebrated wildly in the audience. During his speech, the actor gave a touching anecdote about how one of his fellow nominees, Ethan Hawke, had come into his class to give a talk when he had been studying at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/GettyImages-2263011016-a5937e2.jpg" width="8007" height="5338" alt="Robert Aramayo accepts the Leading Actor Award for I Swear on stage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026 in London, England." title="Robert Aramayo accepts the Leading Actor Award for I Swear on stage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026 in London, England." /> "He gave an amazing talk on longevity as an actor," he explained. "It had a great impact on everyone in that room, and so to be in this category with you tonight is incredible. Thank you Ethan!" In the other acting categories, Irish actress Jessie Buckley won best leading actress as had been widely expected for her turn in Hamnet, but there were also slight upsets in both the supporting categories, with Sinners star Wunmi Mosaku winning best supporting actress and One Battle After Another's Sean Penn being crowned best supporting actor. Meanwhile, it was One Battle After Another which enjoyed the best night overall, winning six awards, including best film and both best adapted screenplay and best director for Paul Thomas Anderson. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Line of Duty star offers cryptic response to question of season 7 return after key role last season
Could we see another familiar AC-12 face back alongside Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar?
It's been an exciting week for Line of Duty fans – with news breaking yesterday (Thursday 19 February) that Robert Carlyle was set to play an "extraordinary character" as a guest lead in the beloved police drama's hotly-anticipated seventh season. The Scottish actor will be joining our AC-12 favourites Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar in the cast for the new run, which will arrive on our screens more than five years on from the previous finale – which some fans felt slightly let down by at the time. But what of the rest of the cast – will we see any other familiar faces? Well, when Radio Times caught up with DCI Chloe Bishop star Shalom Brune-Franklin at the Newport Beach Film Festival UK ​and Ireland Honours event in London, we asked her about the show's return, and she didn't seem too surprised to be quizzed on the subject. "I knew as soon as I saw Radio Times, I was gonna be getting a Line of Duty question!" she laughed, miming the act of zipping her mouth shut. "I think I'm gonna start getting the shakes if you ask me about Line of Duty." View Green Video on the source website Pressed for more information, including her thoughts on Carlyle's casting, she insisted: "I don’t know… I know nothing. I'm gonna plead the fifth, even though we're not in America. I'm gonna plead the fifth anyway." Hmm, AC-12 taught her well! Later, she admitted that Jed Mercurio's show coming back was "awesome" and that there was "definitely an appetite for it", while she also fondly reminisced about her time on the previous season. Shalom Brune-Franklin plays DC Chloe Bishop in Line of Duty. "I had the best time," she said. "I loved it. I was a huge fan of the show before signing on, so it was the most surreal experience I've ever had on a job because it really did feel like I was stepping into the TV. "I kind of had to stop the fan-girling when I got to set, 'cause I was like, this is a bit unprofessional to still be freaking out in the glass box. Get over it. But also we filmed during COVID as well, so it was just a very special time, but different, odd time." Brune-Franklin starred as DCI Bishop in Line of Duty's sixth season, a new recruit to AC-12 who ended up playing a pivotal role in the events of the season. We'd certainly be happy to see her back! Line of Duty seasons 1-6 are available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Add Line of Duty to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Who will win at the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards? Edith Bowman reveals her picks of the nominees
Bowman and Zeena Hill, the director of marketing for BAFTA's official screen partner Samsung Home Entertainment & Appliance, spoke exclusively to Radio Times about the upcoming awards.
Few people know the BAFTA Film Awards better than Edith Bowman. The Scottish broadcaster has worked extensively with the organisation for many years, frequently presenting the BAFTA Scotland Awards and even hosting the main ceremony itself alongside Dermot O'Leary back in 2021. She's therefore uniquely positioned to speak about this Sunday's upcoming awards, and so ahead of the ceremony Radio Times spoke exclusively with Bowman at BAFTA HQ in London's Picadilly, to get the lowdown on what sets the BAFTAs apart from all the many other ceremonies that populate the increasingly lengthy awards circuit. With a huge number of terrific films featuring in this year's nominations – from One Battle After Another to Sinners – Bowman also picked out a few films and performances that she'd been especially wowed by, as well as singing the praises for another tremendous year of British cinema. We were joined for the conversation by Zeena Hill, the director of marketing for BAFTA's official screen partner Samsung Home Entertainment & Appliance, who also gave her verdict on which films she'd love to see triumph at Royal Festival Hall this weekend. You can read the full chat below: Radio Times: Awards season consists of so many different ceremonies. What is that makes the BAFTA Film Awards stand out from the rest? Edith Bowman: I've been lucky enough to work with BAFTA over the years in various different guises. And the award shows are the kind of front-facing thing are amazing and recognising people's achievements. I love all the stuff that goes on behind the scenes that a lot of people don't realise – that BAFTA is a charity, and the support that it gives that next generation of talent, whether they be in front of the camera, behind the camera... But I think what's great is the way that BAFTA is constantly evolving with the its juries, and its processes. It's really listening to what's going on in the outside world and adjusting that to really feel like it's moving with the times and addressing issues that may well need to be addressed, and things like bringing in a casting award and things like that. So making sure that everybody is really getting the recognition that they deserve. And I really like as well how they do the long list, because it really does shine a light on those smaller films that maybe don't get that press that all those big films get, and that is so important. Zeena Hill: From our perspective, being an official screen partner, one of the reasons why we have this partnership with BAFTA is around craftsmanship... BAFTA's credibility around craftsmanship, and how it has the craft awards, and how it really champions craftsmanship, whether it's cinematography, whether it's sound engineering... That for us is how our relationship started, and that's what we see in terms of the Film Awards. RT: The BAFTA Film Awards also celebrate British film. What have you made of the past year of British cinema? Do you have any favourites? EB: I think it's extraordinary. I think every year we see the scale in terms of of what British cinema is capable of doing. And you see that as well, even in the production side of things in terms of how many films are coming to the UK to be made, in terms of the crews that we have. When you look at those British films that are nominated this year, everything from Pillion to Bridget Jones and everything in between. And I think that Pillion, for me, is just like... as a debut feature, you're kind of like, 'wow.' It's like, what an exciting and brilliant breath of fresh air of a creative voice to be recognised that early on in your career, it's so exciting. And then someone like Lynne [Ramsey], who is a complete craftswomen in every element of her filmmaking. I'm really thrilled that that film [Die My Love] has been recognised. Like on a surface level, it might look like an American film, in terms of Jennifer Lawrence and it's set in the States, but behind the scenes it's all British. Andrea Calderwood, the producer, all that kind of stuff, Seamus McGarvey the cinematographer... it's the best of the best of Brits. ZH: From my perspective, I think the one standout for me is I Swear. Because I remember the original TV show, the documentary about [Tourette's] as a topic. And I have to say, when I saw that come up [in the nominations] I was really so proud because this is so British. The topic itself is something that's instilled in me decades ago with this documentary and, for me, it's such a proud moment to sit where I sit, helping in our way a charity that is absolutely recognising British filmmaking and British talent. It's just phenomenal, because it's not just Downton Abbey. Sometimes people go, 'the British film industry is all about period dramas and things.' [But] it's really gritty. And there's so much in there. I mean, if you look at Hamnet, for example, it's an ensemble, right? That's what I love. It's an ensemble with some really great British talent in there as well. That's what I love this year. RT: Do you have favourites from the nominees that you'd like to see win particular awards? EB: What I like is that... there's obviously clear favourites there. But I think what's great across the nominees is that there is so many great films nominated. And I'd quite like to sort of hand out one to so many. You know what I mean? I want One Battle After Another to win one. I want Lynne to win for Die My Love for British film. But then I also want Steve [starring Cillian Murphy] to win. I want Frankenstein to win something. It's so hard because that's the great thing about cinema, you have an emotional connection to these stories and these characters, and so to try and pick them out is hard. And also different days, you feel different ways about things as well. Like I was lucky enough to chat to Chloe [Zhao] about Hamnet and that film affected me so massively that when I sat down to interview her I burst into tears because it was still with me. So they all have really special places. Sirat as well... and My Father's Shadow. View Green Video on the source website ZH: I think the difficulty for me is there's so many different genres. But I think connection has been a real one for me this year, I felt so connected to so many of these movies. So whether it's Chloe's movie about grief, and you're like, 'Oh my God,' it's a real guttural feeling. So I felt real connection to a lot of the movies. I think that's why it makes it really difficult to go, 'I want this one over that one' because they've all been so good. And I think this is the beauty of this year is every one that I've watched so far – there's a few that I haven't watched yet – but every one that I've watched so far, I have come out going, 'Oh my God, that was brilliant.' EB: Marty Supreme as well. I didn't know, whilst I was watching that film that I was so invested in the character, until one point that I just burst out crying. And I didn't know it was coming. I was crying for the rest of the film. I was like, 'What are you doing?', almost having a conversation with myself, it was crazy. It's just an extraordinary year. Then F1. I'm slightly obsessed with F1 so that was great. And I actually rewatched that the other day on TV and having that ability to crank up those moments where Hans Zimmer's score is going a bit Daft Punk... it's just that immersive experience. What are the performances this year that have really stood out to you? EB: Jessie Buckley, I mean... That's another thing about British and Irish cinema is that idea that we are just kind of punching [above our weight]. It's great. I thought Timmy [Chalamet] was phenomenal in Marty Supreme, Leo [DiCaprio] in One Battle After Another as well. For someone like Leonardo DiCaprio, who you've watched in so many films, to be given the opportunity to sort of see a different side of film as well. And then new talent, like Chase Infiniti I thought was... you know, to hold her own in scenes with Sean Penn and Leonardo DiCpario was just incredible. ZH: Robert [Aramayo], just an outstanding performance. When I look at that, it's nothing contrived, it's pure acting. So I think definitely Robert. And Jessie... Oh my god. That was just... as a mum as well... Oh my gosh, my daughter was sitting next to me watching it in the cinema, and someone at the end said, 'All I could hear was all of this sobbing.' I was like, 'That was us!' EB: On Robert, I mean, I didn't really know him as an actor when I watched it, and being a Scot, there was not one minute in that film where I thought 'he's not Scottish'. And when I heard him talk in real life, I was like, 'Sorry?' And that physicality of being able to embody such a unique thing, of reflexes to that condition and be living with that and how he just managed to... what a performance to make us all believe, really. I also did a great conversation with Jacob Elordi last week about Frankenstein. And I mean, that's a fantastic performance as well. Just the idea that he's behind so much prosthetic and still gets so much storytelling and emotion from the creature. And there was an English teacher in the audience. And she said, 'Can I just say a massive thank you on behalf of the English department, because I feel like you have reignited, particularly, a certain demographic's interest in the classics!'. View Green Video on the source website The EE BAFTA Film Awards will take place at London's Royal Festival Hall on Sunday 22nd February 2026. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
What films are out in UK cinemas this week? Reviews from The Secret Agent to The Moment
Your weekly round-up of all the films currently showing in UK cinemas.
With just under a month to go until the Oscars, today marks the release of the final best picture nominee to arrive in UK cinemas – and they might just have saved the best for last. The Secret Agent is the latest film from Brazilian writer/director Kleber Mendonça Filho and explores the atmosphere of life under the military dictatorship that ruled the country between 1964 and 1985. The film unfolds in 1977 in the town of Recife, following a dissident mesmerisingly played by Wagner Moura – who has himself been nominated for best actor. And he's not the only Oscar-nominated star you can find in a new release this week: Rose Byrne is up for best actress for her turn in the intense – and brilliantly titled – drama If I Had Legs I'd Kick You. And there are plenty of other extremely varied options to seek out this week as well. There's raw prison drama Wasteman, starring David Jonsson and Tom Blyth, wacky Gore Verbinski sci-fi Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die, and B-movie inspired horror-comedy Cold Storage, featuring the first post-Stranger Things role for Joe Keery. And then there's mockumentary The Moment, which sees pop sensation Charli xcx star as herself as she embarks on her era-defining Brat album tour. You can find our reviews for all six of those films below, while you can also discover our lowdown on the other major movies released in UK cinemas in recent weeks, including Oscar-nominated flicks Hamnet and Marty Supreme. Read on for your weekly round-up of all the films currently showing in UK cinemas. What films are released in UK cinemas this week? 20 – 26 February The Secret Agent This pleasingly unclassifiable 1970s-set Brazilian tale follows a man with a mysterious past who seeks to reconnect with his young son. Wagner Moura (TV's Narcos) is fantastic as Marcelo – just one of the names the character goes by – who arrives in sweltering Recife, having fled the north of the country. His lad is obsessed by Steven Spielberg's Jaws and his father-in-law runs a local movie theatre, but these are just a sprinkling of the elements that go into a complex story dealing with corruption, chaos and carnival. Kleber Mendonça Filho (Bacurau) won the best director award at Cannes, and deservedly so: he conjures up a consistently surprising and inventive look at a bygone era, dotted with nicely rendered period detail. This is a world where death permeates every frame, from a rotting corpse on a garage forecourt to the gruesome sight of a man’s severed leg inside a dead shark. Filled with weird asides (like the aforementioned leg, starring in its own exploitation flick) and even a present-day wraparound story, this is unusual, and sometimes extraordinary, film-making. – James Mottram Read our interview with Wagner Moura If I Had Legs I’d Kick You Motherhood is a mountain to be exhaustingly climbed in this scathing, innovative comedy drama from American writer/director Mary Bronstein (who also pops up to play a patronising paediatrician). Rose Byrne is sensational as Linda, a woman whose life, and ceiling, is tumbling down around her. She’s grappling with the demands of her daughter (a largely unseen Delaney Quinn) whom she feeds via a gastric tube, while trying to maintain her career as a psychotherapist. Her ship-captain husband Charles (voiced by Christian Slater) is away with work, and her own therapist (Conan O’Brien) seems to despise her. Things get really ugly when Linda is forced to move herself and her daughter into a motel (run by A$AP Rocky’s James) and she starts behaving recklessly, while a client’s crisis touches a nerve. Bronstein confronts the depth of Linda’s depression and the judgements she faces in imaginative, interrogatory style, punctuating her film with sometimes wildly funny farce. A never-better Byrne, deservedly Oscar-nominated, thrives under the film’s intense focus, juggling comedy and tragedy with aplomb. – Emma Simmonds Read our interview with Rose Byrne Wasteman A compelling and often uneasy watch, director Cal McMau’s feature debut is a taut, muscular thriller that’s stylish in all the right ways while exposing flaws at the heart of the British prison system. "Stay out of trouble," a parole officer tells the mild-mannered Taylor (David Jonsson), but in a centre rife with violence, avoiding conflict is easier said than done. And with a volatile new cellmate (Tom Blyth) to worry about, Taylor’s chances of ever returning to the outside – or his son – suddenly seem vanishingly slim. Jonsson excels in commanding sympathy and wringing tension from Taylor’s every agonising dilemma. Blyth matches his co-star beat for beat, with a performance of animal intensity. McMau’s tight framing ratchets up the stress, especially during the film's stand-out riot sequence, and a drone-heavy score lends the film an air of tragic inevitability. It’s a little heavier on flash than substance but works as a fine calling card for every member of its cast and crew. – Sean McGeady Read our interview with Tom Blyth Read our interview with David Jonsson Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die If you only watch one movie featuring a computer-generated centaur with a cat’s head that sprays glittery confetti from its undercarriage, then make it this one. Gore Verbinski’s hog-wild time-travel tale is audacious, original and a massive amount of fun, even though it falls over in a confusing final act. Sam Rockwell has a blast as the revolutionary from the future trying to save the world from a nine-year-old child who is destined to invent a godlike AI that hates humans. To do so, he must recruit a team of random strangers from a diner (among them a stellar Juno Temple, Zazie Beetz, Michael Peña and Haley Lu Richardson). With Black Mirror-esque vignettes showing the diners’ backstories intercut with the mission, the first two-thirds of the film are clever, funny and packed with infectious energy. Likely to draw comparisons to Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), this is intelligent but unpretentious and an unashamed good time. – Rosie Fletcher Read our full Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die review Cold Storage Part apocalyptic zombie shocker, part alien conspiracy thriller, Jurassic Park screenwriter David Koepp’s novel receives a fun, scary adaptation crammed with splatter action and mordant wit. Two guards (Joe Keery and Georgina Campbell) working the night shift at a desert storage facility face uncontrolled body-bursting mayhem when a parasitic fungus escapes from the underground levels. Who you gonna call? Weathered biochemist Liam Neeson, aware of the mutating virus threat decades ago, is now recruited to join the dazed duo in a race against time to destroy the organism. Nimbly directed by Jonny Campbell, the outlandish action is peppered with plenty of gory surprises. The film also maintains the fine line between smart comedy and gruesome horror for a riotous high-end raid on "living dead" lore as defined by George A Romero. – Alan Jones Read our interview with Joe Keery The Moment Pop sensation Charli XCX rips into the music industry, and the success of her 2024 brat album, in this amusing, zeitgeist-tapping mockumentary. Set in the run-up to a gig at London’s O2 Arena, Charli is pushed by Rosanna Arquette’s spiky record company exec into participating in an accompanying tour film. Overseen by Alexander Skarsgård’s pretentious film-maker, it’s the antithesis of the anarchic brat, full of compromise. Worse still, Charli’s team, led by manager Tim (Jamie Demetriou), is orchestrating a queasy deal for a "brat" bank card. Debut director Aidan Zameri delivers a typical mock-doc flavour, with an overzealous use of handheld camerawork, but does well in capturing the energy and egos that surround artistic innovators. With cameos from Kylie Jenner, Julia Fox and Rachel Sennott, all playing themselves, this is an insider peek at the way record companies can bleed artists dry of any creativity. Credit Charli for biting the hand that feeds, even if the result isn’t quite as scathing or insightful as it thinks it is. – James Mottram Read our full The Moment review Best of the rest still showing in UK cinemas Wuthering Heights Emily Brontë’s gothic romance gets a radical revamp in this sizzling and wonderfully flamboyant screen adaptation from Emerald Fennell (Saltburn). Childhood friends Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi) and Cathy (Margot Robbie) fall in love as youngsters, but become separated after Cathy marries their rich neighbour Edgar (Shazad Latif). Five years after fleeing, Heathcliff returns as a mysteriously moneyed gentleman and the couple begin an affair. Boasting an outrageous, often irresistible sense of fun, Fennell's film is a visual riot, with this sexed-up version of the story love-bombing the screen with reds, pinks and whites. The sincerity with which the love story is told and performed is impressive, too. Elordi channels Sharpe-era Sean Bean, Robbie gives a fully fleshed-out turn that blends brattiness with tragedy, and Hong Chau shines as watchful housemaid Nelly. On one hand, this is the cinematic equivalent of "go big or go home", with the fantastical sets occasionally distracting. On the other hand, it's an emotionally impactful adaptation for the ages that captures the depth, passion and destructiveness of Heathcliff and Cathy’s bond. It will almost certainly provoke pearl-clutching among the purists. – Emma Simmonds Read our full Wuthering Heights review Crime 101 For his third film, Bart Layton takes on a heist story based on a novella by private-investigator-turned-crime writer Don Winslow (Savages). Chris Hemsworth heads a class cast as professional jewel thief Mike Davis, whose ability to carry out a series of robberies without using violence or leaving any DNA evidence and clue to his identity is foxing the Los Angeles police. However, dogged detective Lou Lubesnick (Mark Ruffalo, going for the crumpled Columbo look) sees a pattern: these meticulously executed heists all take place in the vicinity of California’s elongated 101 freeway. Meanwhile, Halle Berry’s disillusioned 50-something insurance broker Sharon Colvin gets caught between Davis and Lubesnick. Berry matches her co-stars every step of the way as a woman struggling to navigate a workplace where her age, experience and talent count for little. Meanwhile, Layton sustains the slow-burning tension, punctuated occasionally by some riveting chases, as the cast circle each other on the way to a nerve-jangling, edge-of-the-seat climax where the outcome is anything but predictable. – Jeremy Aspinall Read our full Crime 101 review Read our interview with Mark Ruffalo and Chris Hemsworth Little Amélie or the Character of Rain This delightful, Oscar-nominated animated tale paints a world seen through the eyes of a toddler. Our narrator is Amélie (voiced by Loïse Charpentier), who lives with her Belgian family in 1960s Japan. At two and a half, she assumes that she is the centre of the universe – perhaps even God! Annoyingly, she can’t bend the world to her will. But she can bond with housekeeper Nishio-san (Victoria Grosbois), until lines blur and she is unsure whether she feels Belgian – most of the dialogue is in French – or Japanese. Deftly adapting from Amélie Nothomb’s memoir The Character of Rain, directors Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han use delicate brushstrokes to tell Amélie’s story up to the age of three. As she experiences more of life, they expertly contrast washed-out watercolours with more vibrant hues. Taking a leaf out of Studio Ghibli’s book, they also focus on small moments to build mood: someone gently straightening a pair of shoes, for example. The result is elegant, sweet and, with its subtle themes of post-Second World War national tensions, surprisingly poignant. – Jayne Nelson Looney Tunes: The Day the Earth Blew Up Daffy Duck and Porky Pig spring into action when the world is threatened by aliens in an affectionate animated spoof of vintage science-fiction movies that also doffs a cap to Looney Tunes' own bygone golden age. As lowly manual workers at a bubblegum factory, the duo discovers sinister beings from outer space have infected the company’s newest flavour with a serum that turns earthlings into zombies, and must thwart the evildoers before the product's big public rollout. Although Warner Bros' original landmark shorts hovered around the seven-to-eight-minute mark, director Peter Browngardt and his team of animators and writers are so enthusiastically inventive that these feature-length shenanigans never outstay their welcome. The period setting is non-specific but sprinkled with pleasingly retro touches (cars, corner diners, a cassette player), typical of the impressive attention to detail throughout that older viewers in particular will find satisfying. Eric Bauza’s voice work on both main characters is spot-on, zesty and reverential to the legendary Mel Blanc of yore. – Terry Staunton Send Help Horror legend Sam Raimi is at the helm of this madcap survival thriller, in which an office dogsbody and her nasty new boss get stranded on a deserted island following a plane crash. Rachel McAdams plays the lonely and hardworking Linda, with Dylan O’Brien her nepo-baby nemesis, who refuses to give Linda the promotion promised to her by his father. However, once the pair wash up on the island the hyper-capable Linda seizes charge, with the spoilt, incompetent Bradley incensed at the role reversal. The film plays out like a gender-swapped version of Swept Away (both the 1974 Italian version and its disastrous 2002 remake), with some resemblance to Ruben Ostlund’s 2022 Triangle of Sadness. It’s not quite as satirically successful as the latter and McAdams as a frump is frankly absurd, but things get deliciously dark and there’s a manic energy that’s recognisably Raimi. The director gets great value from his leads, with McAdams and O’Brien absolutely launching themselves into their performances as they plumb the depths of human derangement. – Emma Simmonds Read our interview with Sam Raimi My Father's Shadow Two young Nigerian brothers bond with their estranged father in this beguiling coming-of-age story, set in 1993. Living out in a village with their mother, siblings Aki (Godwin Chimerie Egbo) and Remi (Chibuike Marvelous Egbo) are shocked when their long-absent dad Fola (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù) returns, only to whisk them off to Lagos, where he is aiming to collect months of unpaid wages. There, they get to see the big city, at a time when political tensions are rising due to an impending and contentious presidential election. Debut director Akinola Davies, filming this semi-autobiographical tale from his brother Wale’s script, creates a strong sense of place, his Lagos teeming with life, possibility and danger. Only subtly do we glimpse something of Fola’s life apart from his boys, not least in a telling interaction with a waitress. But this is mostly a day-in-the-life film, in which these two boys come to realise the strengths and flaws of their father. Beautifully performed all round, this pulsates with energy and vibrancy. – James Mottram Read our interview with Akinola Davies Jr Hamlet Riz Ahmed plays Shakespeare’s Danish prince in this terse 114-minute reworking of the classic tragedy, set in a modern-day British South Asian community. It begins with a Hindu ceremony mourning the loss of Hamlet’s dead father, poisoned by his brother Claudius (Art Malik) so he can marry Hamlet’s mother Gertrude (Sheeba Chaddha). As in the play, the father’s ghost (Avijit Dutt) appears and stokes a thirst for revenge in Hamlet, who sets a very theatrical trap. The second collaboration between Ahmed and director Aneil Karia – following 2020 short The Long Goodbye, which won them a joint Oscar – this is a vibrant take on oft-filed material, enlivened by its focus on Asian cultural traditions. Cutting certain characters (such as the gravedigger) does relinquish some of the play’s distinct black humour, though, and the notion of turning the court of Elsinore into a corporation isn’t anything new (see the Ethan Hawke-starring Hamlet from 2000). But robust turns by Ahmed and Morfydd Clark ,as the maudlin Ophelia, bring this version to life. – James Mottram Is This Thing On? View Green Video on the source website A newly single man rediscovers his voice through the joys of performing stand-up in this comedy drama directed by Bradley Cooper. Will Arnett is Alex, left unmoored after separating from wife Tess (Laura Dern). One night, he passes by a New York bar, where to gain free entry he commits to doing a short stand-up set. Bitten by the bug, he makes inroads on the local comedy scene while navigating emotional turbulence, just as Tess, a former volleyball player, reassesses her own life choices. Loosely inspired by the life of Scouse comedian John Bishop (Arnett rather incongruously wears Liverpool FC shirts, in a nod to Bishop), it follows Cooper’s musical-themed movies, the A Star Is Born remake (2018) and Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro (2023), with a different take on the restorative powers of performance. It’s a little throwaway and Woody Allen-lite, typified by Cooper’s small, ill-advised role as an airhead family friend. Arnett is an amiable, earnest lead, however, while Dern is typically classy. – James Mottram Read our full Is This Thing On? review Read our interview with John Bishop and Will Arnett Nouvelle Vague Jean-Luc Godard’s seminal Breathless takes centre stage in this smartly scripted and shot comedy set around the birth of the French New Wave cinematic movement. In 1959 Paris, Cahiers du Cinèma critic Godard (Guillaume Marbeck) prepares to make his first foray into feature film-making with the story of a small-time crook and his relationship with an American student. Casting the soon-to-be-iconic Jean-Paul Belmondo (Aubry Dillon) and Jean Seberg (Zoey Deutch), Godard coolly battles his producer and others to get his vision realised. Director Richard Linklater (Boyhood) elects to shoot, appropriately, in black-and-white for this day-by-day chronicle of production. Like all good movies about movies, Linklater captures the magical chaos and inflated egos but does so with real affection. With New Wave contemporaries – Eric Rohmer, Jacques Rivette, Claude Chabrol and Breathless story-writer François Truffaut among them – all woven into the fabric, Godard’s crew even bumps into elder iconoclast Robert Bresson (Aurèlien Lorgnier) shooting Pickpocket on the Metro. Marbeck centres the action well, brilliantly embodying the chain-smoking Godard, his recognisable vocal rhythms and spirit of rebellion. Cinephile heaven. – James Mottram Shelter Jason Statham stars as an ex-Special Forces soldier forced out of self-imposed isolation in this hard-boiled action thriller. For the past decade, Michael Mason (Statham) has been sheltering in a disused lighthouse in the Outer Hebrides. His only contact with humanity is Jessie (Hamnet’s Bodhi Rae Breathnach), the young girl who delivers his provisions. When her uncle’s boat sinks in a violent storm, Mason has little choice but to take her in – an act of kindness that soon leaves him exposed to his former MI6 paymasters. The grizzled Statham’s relationship with Breathnach’s bolshie youngster gives the film its heart, while director Ric Roman Waugh (Greenland) competently lifts the car chases and fist fights above the norm. It’s a shame that the Bourne-lite plot is underwritten, but the support cast – including Harriet Walter, Bill Nighy, Naomi Ackie and Daniel Mays – are far better than you might normally find in such a bruising action vehicle. – James Mottram Read our interview with Jason Statham and Ric Roman Waugh No Other Choice View Green Video on the source website A paper-company employee loses his job after 25 years and decides to get ruthless in this rollercoaster South Korean movie. With two children, two dogs and a wife (Son Ye-jin) to support, Man-su (Lee Byung-hun) tries everything to find gainful employment but comes to realise the only way he’ll find work at a rival paper company is by quite literally eliminating the competition, bumping them off one by one. But this mild-mannered white-collar worker is no killer, making his task all the more complex. Loosely adapted from Donald E Westlake’s 1997 novel The Ax, writer/director Park Chan-wook steers his movie more toward ribald comedy than some of his more violent offerings such as Oldboy or Thirst. Not all the laughs land, but this is still a sly look at modern-day employment in a world facing increasing automation and AI. Led by the highly watchable Lee, who worked with Park on the director’s 2000 debut Joint Security Area, it’s immaculately shot and performed, if a slightly overlong and unwieldy ride. – James Mottram Read our full No Other Choice review 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple View Green Video on the source website The zombie apocalypse gathers momentum in this direct follow-up to 28 Years Later (the fourth film overall in the franchise), with a battle between good and evil. Ralph Fiennes returns as the maverick doctor and survivalist studying the virus for a cure. He's on a collision course with Jack O’Connell’s charismatic quasi-religious gang leader, who is intent on wholesale slaughter. Alfie Williams, the pre-teen of the previous film, is also back, reluctantly drafted in to Jimmy’s ragbag of killers. Taking over from Danny Boyle, director Nia DaCosta and screenwriter Alex Garland fashion a more personality-led tale that’s still a supremely satisfying horror thrill ride. All three of the lead actors bring a tangible depth to their characters, complementing DaCosta’s inventive gore and expertly executed shocks. Some elements do remain frustratingly unresolved, but there’s hope of loose ends being tied together in the next chapter, which is teased in this film's epilogue. – Terry Staunton Read our full 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple review Hamnet View Green Video on the source website The film's the thing, as family tragedy shapes this wrenching but wonderful fictionalised portrait of William Shakespeare through his domestic life. Paul Mescal plays Will, the sensitive playwright who meets and falls for Agnes (Jesse Buckley), an earthy free spirit. Together, they forge a family of three children – including a delightful boy, Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe). But as Will's career takes off in London, causing him to be increasingly absent from their rural Stratford-upon-Avon home, illness strikes – bringing with it unimaginable pain. Adapted from the novel by Maggie O'Farrell, who co-wrote the script with director Chloé Zhao (Nomadland), this is a sensuous, serious work, in tune with the heartbeat of nature and the rhythms of life, as it explores the raw emotions of loss. Mescal and Buckley are sensational, creating a relationship that feels honest and real. Zhao's transcendent work is extraordinary too, especially in the final act, as Mescal's playwright – who is only ever once acknowledged as being the Bard – finds creativity and catharsis in the bleakest of hours. – James Mottram Read our full Hamnet review Song Sung Blue The highs and lows of a husband-and-wife Neil Diamond tribute act were eventful enough to warrant an award-winning documentary, so it’s perhaps surprising to have taken a further decade-and-a-half for someone to turn their tale into a drama. For while both share a familiar, million-selling Diamond favourite as their title, and barely 10 minutes ever pass before another banger graces the soundtrack of writer-director Craig Brewer’s film, the music is largely a backdrop to a beautiful, big-hearted, blue-collar love story – with a shocking fork in the road along the way. Hugh Jackman is Mike Sardina, a Vietnam vet and recovering alcoholic celebrating 20 years sober when he meets a fellow traveller on Milwaukee’s low-rent "Legends" circuit of fairgrounds and old folks’ community centre casinos; Kate Hudson’s Claire, a lively, divorced mother of two struggling to pay the bills. "Good times never seemed so good," Neil Diamond sang on the evergreen Sweet Caroline, and this is a film where even the bad ones can be overcome on the path to something brighter. – Terry Staunton Read our full Song Sung Blue review Marty Supreme View Green Video on the source website A ferociously good Timothée Chalamet pursues sporting greatness in this electric screwball comedy drama from Josh Safdie, who goes solo after co-directing Uncut Gems with his brother Benny. Set in 1952 in New York and very loosely based on the life of a real ping-pong hustler, this shaggy story follows 23-year-old Marty Mauser, a shoe salesman with the gift of the gab and an extraordinary talent with a table tennis bat. As he represents his country with obnoxious showmanship in international tournaments, Marty's sweaty and scheming chase of the American Dream is exasperating for those in his orbit – including his long-suffering girlfriend (Odessa A’zion), a Japanese ping-pong prodigy (Koto Kawaguchi), a retired movie star (Gwyneth Paltrow) and her millionaire husband (Kevin O’Leary). No matter how deplorable Marty seems in the absurd and exhilarating chaos entirely of his own making, you will laugh as much as you condemn – and never look away. In a feat of sheer intensity, Chalamet channels Tom Cruise in The Color of Money or even Robert De Niro in Mean Streets, and the result is a breathless and brilliant all-American character study for our times. – Max Copeman Read our full Marty Supreme review The Housemaid A live-in maid finds herself in hot water with a well-to-do family’s mood-swinging matriarch in this frequently shocking psychological thriller, based on the novel by Freida McFadden. Recently paroled from prison, Millie (Sydney Sweeney) is desperate to keep the job in order to avoid being sent back behind bars. However, she endures all manner of poor treatment and violent outbursts from her unhinged employer (Amanda Seyfried) before more sinister problems come to the fore. Director Paul Feig has form walking the darker corridors of domesticity, but whereas 2018’s A Simple Favour revels in blackly comedic upheavals to happy homes, The Housemaid is a genuinely unsettling depiction of dysfunctional families and breathtaking cruelty. Seyfriend excels in a role that calls for her to flit from pantomime-like to pure evil, and Sweeney is impressive, too, blooming convincingly from put-upon maid to plucky heroine. – Terry Staunton Read our full The Housemaid review Avatar: Fire and Ash Returning us to the alien planet of Pandora, James Cameron’s third Avatar epic comes in all guns blazing, heating up the battle between the humans and the Na’vi. Though much of the focus is still on former Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his Na'vi family, the threat from the colonising military group RDA grows worse when Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang) forms an uneasy alliance with Varange (Oona Chaplin), leader of the fire-friendly Mangkwan clan, also known as the Ash People. At over three hours long, the film's narrative never quite justifies its length, as Cameron lurches through multiple frenetic and overwhelming battles. But with a sincere if simple message baked in about the destructive qualities of humanity, several scenes – such as one where the planet's whale-like population is attacked – do hit home. This is not least because of the spectacular world-building characteristic of this series; the sheer effort put into creating the bio-luminescent forests, turquoise oceans and, now, fiery volcanos is worth the ticket price alone. Released once again in state-of-the-art 3D, it's a marvel of CG craftsmanship and of Cameron's pursuit of technical perfection. – James Mottram Read our full Avatar: Fire and Ash review Read our interview with Sigourney Weaver Read our interview with James Cameron Read our interview with Oona Chaplin Zootropolis 2 Brimming with rapid-fire sight gags and movie in-jokes, the sequel to Disney’s hit 2016 animation is a fast and funny combination of buddy cop comedy and conspiracy romp. It picks up where the original left off, with perky bunny Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) on police duty with her wily fox partner Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman). Despite their clashing methods, the duo stumble on a mystery involving Zootropolis’s 100-year anniversary and Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan), a rogue viper slithering amok in the supposedly reptile-free city. Predictable plot twists aside, the duo’s investigation nimbly spans genres and Disney tropes, with animal jokes, crime film influences and lightly handled messages about prejudice deftly interwoven. Old and fresh characters are breezily balanced, with series newcomers Quan, Fortune Feimster and Andy Samberg playfully nailing their voice roles. Featuring a winning lead pairing, pacey chase sequences and a richly realised world, the film builds on its predecessor’s appeal with charm, energy and the wittiest nod to The Shining in a kids’ movie yet. – Kevin Harley Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Best films to watch on TV today, tonight and this week
Whatever your taste, there's a movie on for everyone.
There may be plenty of movies available on streaming platforms and being released weekly in cinemas, but nothing quite beats the feeling of finding a hidden gem while flicking through the TV. With such a raft of options – old and new – to pick from this weekend, it can often feel like a bit of an insurmountable task to find one that really tickles your fancy. But that's where we come in to do the hard work for you, picking out some of the most stellar options available to tune into. This weeks selection includes everything from classic Hitchcock thriller The 39 Steps to Steven Spielberg's recent semi-autobiographical gem The Fabelmans. There's something for everyone and if you're wondering where to find some of the best films on the terrestrial channels this week, we've got you sorted. Read on for an expertly compiled list of the best flicks airing across the next seven days. Friday 20th February Drums Along the Mohawk - 2:50pm, Film4 Western adventure starring Claudette Colbert and Henry Fonda. In pre-Revolutionary America, a newly married couple join other settlers on the frontier of the Mohawk Valley. After repeated attacks by native American tribes, they are forced to take shelter in a nearby fort. Read our full review Speed - 9pm, Great Action Action thriller starring Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper and Sandra Bullock. A demented extortionist's plan to collect a huge ransom by planting a bomb in an LA skyscraper is thwarted by the reckless bravery of SWAT daredevil Jack Traven. Undeterred, the unhinged bomber sets Traven a sterner test - an even more deadly device on board a commuter-filled bus that will explode if the bus's speed drops below 50mph. Read our full review The Damned United - 11pm, BBC Two Football drama starring Michael Sheen and Timothy Spall. After guiding Leeds United to the First Division title in 1974, Don Revie leaves Elland Road to become manager of England. In a surprise move, the Leeds board turns to outspoken coach Brian Clough as his replacement. But it proves to be a short-lived and bitter experience for all involved. Read our full review The Inspection - 12:25am, BBC One Military drama based on a true story, starring Jeremy Pope. After a period spent living on the streets, Ellis French enlists in the US Marines, and is sent to a gruelling boot camp for training. But French's life takes a dangerous turn when his instructors and fellow recruits discover he is gay. Read our full review Saturday 21st February Reach for the Sky - 4:30pm, Talking Pictures TV Biographical drama about war hero Douglas Bader, starring Kenneth More. Following a flying accident in which he loses both his legs, doctors expect Bader to die, but he overcomes incredible odds to survive and take on the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain. Read our full review Mrs Doubtfire - 4:40pm, Film4 Comedy drama starring Robin Williams, Sally Field and Pierce Brosnan. When voiceover artist Daniel Hillard walks out of his day job, his wife Miranda decides it's time to walk out on him, and is granted custody of their children. Daniel is desperate to be with his kids, so when Miranda advertises for a nanny-cum-housekeeper he applies for the job in disguise. Read our full review Django Unchained - 9pm, Film4 Western directed by Quentin Tarantino, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, Samuel L Jackson and Christoph Waltz. After being freed from slavery and trained in the ways of a bounty hunter by Dr King Schultz, Django sets out to free his wife from a vicious plantation owner. Read our full review The Fabelmans - 9:15pm, Channel 4 View Green Video on the source website Period coming-of-age drama starring Michelle Williams, Paul Dano and Gabriel LaBelle. In 1950s Arizona, young Sammy Fabelman finds that using his dad's Super 8 camera helps him to work through his feelings, all while creating fun little stories. As he grows older and his parents' marriage gradually crumbles, Sammy realises that making movies can't solve everything - but they are his life's calling. Read our full review Predator - 12:15pm, Channel 4 Science-fiction action thriller starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. A rescue mission deep in the Central American jungle turns into a fight for survival as a crack commando unit, led by Major "Dutch" Schaeffer, comes up against an unseen enemy - a predator able to resist the most up-to-date weaponry and kill with relentless efficiency. Read our full review Sunday 22nd February Spider-Man - 2:50pm, BBC One Superhero adventure, starring Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe and Kirsten Dunst. During a school trip to a New York laboratory, Peter Parker is bitten by a genetically modified spider and develops extraordinary powers. Then a series of events convinces Peter that he should use his new physical abilities to wage war on crime - a decision that takes him away from his school sweetheart, Mary Jane Watson, and pits him against the evil Green Goblin. Read our full review 2001: A Space Odyssey - 6:20pm, ITV4 Keir Dullea stars in Stanley Kubrick's ground-breaking science-fiction epic, which depicts the evolution of man - from primitive apes to the 21st century - through the medium of space travel. Read our full review The Tall Men - 8:45pm, Great Action Western starring Clark Gable, Jane Russell and Robert Ryan. Following the American Civil War, brothers Ben and Clint Allison journey north to Montana in search of gold, but end up as cattle drivers in the pay of wealthy businessman Nathan Stark. On the way to Texas to pick up the herd, they save young Nella Turner from a Sioux ambush. It's a meeting that will have consequences for them all. Read our full review Calendar Girls - 10pm, BBC Two Comedy drama based on a true story, starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters. Chris and Annie are best friends and members of the local Women's Institute in Knapely, Yorkshire. When Annie's husband dies from leukaemia, Chris suggests they and their fellow WI colleagues raise money for the local hospital by posing nude for a calendar. The media interest that follows leads to the project becoming a worldwide sensation. Read our full review Women Talking - 11:40pm, BBC Two Drama starring Rooney Mara, Claire Foy and Jessie Buckley. The women of a small, isolated religious community discover that the menfolk have been drugging and sexually assaulting them. When the men travel into the city for a legal matter, the women have 48 hours to themselves, to debate and decide on their next steps. Will they stay quiet, fight back, or flee? Read our full review Monday 23rd February Call Jane - 10:55pm, Film4 In 1960s Chicago, a married woman must turn to an underground organisation of women to help end her life-threatening pregnancy. Director Phyllis Nagy's drama based on a true story, starring Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver. Read our full review Dark Waters - 11:05pm, BBC Two Drama based on a true story, starring Mark Ruffalo and Anne Hathaway. Corporate defence lawyer Robert Bilott is approached with evidence that seems to connect the DuPont chemical corporation to a spate of farm animal infections, disabilities and deaths. As the case builds over the next several years, Bilott's job becomes ever tougher. But with the revelation that human lives are at stake, too, his resolve only grows. Read our full review I’m Your Man - 1:15am, Film4 Sci-fi romance starring Maren Eggert and Dan Stevens. In order to get funding for her research, academic Alma takes part in an unusual study: she is paired with a robot, named Tom, who is designed to embody her "ideal man". Initially unsettled by her new partner, Alma reacts with hostility, but over time her feelings unexpectedly evolve. Read our full review Tuesday 24th February BlackBerry - 9pm, Film4 View Green Video on the source website Comedy drama based on a true story, starring Jay Baruchel, Matt Johnson and Glenn Howerton. In the mid-90s, Mike Lazaridis and Douglas Fregin pitch their BlackBerry pager device to potential investors. With the help of ambitious CEO Jim Balsillie, the result is a game-changer. But their rapid rise is followed by a fall as power, money and rivalry with Apple enter the picture. Read our full review And Then There Were None - 9:05pm, Talking Pictures TV Crime mystery based on one of Agatha Christie's most famous novels, starring Barry Fitzgerald and Walter Huston. A far-off isle seems the perfect weekend location for ten assorted guests - until they discover their host mysteriously detained, and a murderer among them… Read our full review Malcolm X - 11pm, BBC Two Biographical drama starring Denzel Washington. Street hustler Malcolm Little converts to Islam while in prison, changes his name to Malcolm X and rises to fame as spokesman for the Nation of Islam. But his controversial political statements make him powerful enemies. Read our full review Wednesday 25th February An Inspector Calls - 9:10pm, Talking Pictures TV Mystery based on the play by JB Priestley and starring Alastair Sim. A police officer uncovers dark secrets when he interviews an affluent family in connection with the death of a young girl. Read our full review Boss Level - 11:45pm, Film4 Former Special Forces operative Roy Pulver wakes every day in his apartment with a beautiful woman in his bed and assassins trying to kill him. Stuck in a time loop, Roy must dodge bullets and blade attacks to unlock the mystery behind his repetitive and untimely demise. Action comedy, starring Frank Grillo. Read our full review Point Break - 12am, BBC One Action thriller starring Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves. Novice FBI agent Johnny Utah is tasked with tracking down a gang of four bank robbers, who carry out their raids wearing masks of former American presidents. In the belief that the gang are surfers, Utah goes under cover to learn surfing skills and encounters the mysterious Bodhi. Read our full review Thursday 26th February The 39 Steps - 10pm, BBC Four Classic thriller starring Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll. An innocent man accused of murder is pursued by both the police and an international spy ring. The beleaguered Richard Hannay finds himself fleeing across the desolate Scottish moors handcuffed to a beautiful woman. Read our full review Mindhorn - 12am, BBC Two Comedy starring Julian Barratt and Andrea Riseborough. When the deranged fan of a 1980s detective TV series goes on the rampage, the show's wrung-out star is enlisted to help take him down. But adopting the guise of Mindhorn, his old character, could create more problems for the actor than he's able to handle. Read our full review Can You Ever Forgive Me? - 12:35am, Channel 4 Comedy drama based on a true story, starring Melissa McCarthy and Richard E Grant. In the early 1990s, writer Lee Israel is struggling to make ends meet as she contends with low sales and rejected pitches. When she sells on a personal letter from Katharine Hepburn, she realises she can put her wit and writing skills to a lucrative new use: forging and selling letters from famous historical figures. Read our full review Friday 27th February Patton - 11am, Film4 Oscar-winning biographical drama starring George C Scott as General George Smith Patton, one of the greatest and most controversial military leaders of the Second World War. Read our full review Ride Lonesome - 2:20pm, Film4 Western starring Randolph Scott. When bounty hunter Ben Brigade seeks to bring a killer to justice, ostensibly to collect the reward, he meets up with two outlaws who have their own reason for wanting to turn in the wanted man. Read our full review Scrapper - 11pm, BBC Two Comedy drama starring Lola Campbell and Harris Dickinson. Since the recent death of her mother, 12-year-old Georgie has fended for herself on her London council estate, selling off stolen bikes while telling elaborate lies to keep social services at bay. When her estranged father, Jason, suddenly drops into her life, Georgie is initially wary; but the pair form a tentative truce and soon, an unconventional criminal partnership. Read our full review Relic - 12:20am, BBC Two View Green Video on the source website Supernatural horror mystery starring Emily Mortimer, Robyn Nevin and Bella Heathcote. When elderly Edna is reported missing, her daughter Kay and granddaughter Sam begin searching her large, rural house for clues. But then Edna emerges, confused and disoriented. Is her dementia getting worse, or is something more sinister going on? Read our full review If you have Netflix, we have rounded up the best movies on Netflix and the best series on Netflix to watch now – and Disney Plus viewers can check out our best movies on Disney Plus guide. Got Prime Video? We also have the best movies on Amazon Prime. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
People We Meet on Vacation star Tom Blyth explains why his new film changed his view on the prison system
Blyth stars alongside David Jonsson in Wasteman.
New prison drama Wasteman – which marks the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Cal McMau – boasts impressive performances from two of the UK's biggest emerging actors, David Jonsson and Tom Blyth. Last year's BAFTA Rising Star Award winner Jonsson stars as Taylor, an inmate nearing the end of a long sentence. When we meet him, he's in line for an early release, but that situation is put in serious jeopardy when his new cellmate Dee – played by Blyth – arrives and immediately starts exhibiting extremely volatile behaviour. It's an engrossing and sometimes difficult-to-watch film, which addresses the harsh realities of prison life with grit and authenticity. That was achieved in large part thanks to the collaboration of prison rehabilitation charity Switchback, who worked with the filmmakers to provide a sense of realism that prevented it from falling into prison movie cliché. Speaking exclusively to Radio Times at last year's London Film Festival, Blyth admitted that his view on the prison system had "definitely" changed by taking part in the project. "Before doing this, I liked to think that I had some elevated empathy or at least a nuanced way of seeing the prison system," he explained. "But I was very naive, I think, without even knowing it." He added that having conducted extensive research in preparation to play his character, his main takeaway was that "the prison system is broken and it's over capacity, understaffed, underfunded, and I think the aim of it is misled." "I think it's not really rehabilitating people, it's like sequestering them away, shoving them all in a small space and hoping for the best," he continued. "And then the problems from outside follow everyone inside, except they're amplified, because it's like a pressure cooker." It was clear to him now, he added, that a system had to be put in place that was about genuine rehabilitation, one that adopted a more humanist approach. View Green Video on the source website "I also think that funding and that focus needs to start way before people end up in the prison system," he said. "It needs to start when they're younger, when they're struggling in poverty, don't have access to good schools, don't have access to emotional and psychological support. "And I think that's the thing. My big takeaway is, if someone like Dee had had infrastructure around him and investment in him as a young man way before, he wouldn't be where he ends up." Agreeing with Blyth's point, Jonsson admitted that the current system was not one that would be "easy to fix". "But making this movie wasn't easy," he continued. "And I think that's the wonderful thing about art, sometimes it can really spark a conversation. So if this movie does that as well as thrill people and make them feel a little bit sick, that's great." Wasteman is released in UK cinemas on Friday 20 February 2026. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Best kids' movies to watch on Netflix - from K-Pop Demon Hunters to Wallace & Gromit
Enjoy time at home with the children with our pick of family films available to watch on Netflix.
With the half-term break on the way, the chances are you might be looking for a new film to keep the kids occupied – or perhaps for something you can watch with them that works for the whole family. The good news is that Netflix has no shortage of options to choose from, including everything from 2025 mega-hit K-Pop Demon Hunters to virtually the entire library of films from the exceptional Studio Ghibli catalogue. If you're after some classic blockbusters that are also suitable for younger audiences, the likes of Back to the Future and Jurassic Park should fit the bill – provided your kids can withstand a few frights – while if you're looking to introduce a few more macabre themes, Guillermo del Toro's spellbinding adaptation of Pinocchio is a great place to start. We've compiled a lit consisting of 20 varied options currently available on the streamer below – scroll down for our picks alongside reviews from the Radio Times archive. Check out our list of the best family films on Netflix below. 1. K-Pop Demon Hunters You don't have to know a thing about the South Korean K-pop phenomenon to enjoy this deliriously silly English-language animated musical. It introduces us to delightful three-piece girl band Huntr/x (voiced by Arden Cho, Ji-young Yoo and May Hong). As global superstars, they wow huge crowds on stage – but also secretly fight demons to save the world. Now the baddies have a plan: they've created an equally talented boy band, Saja Boys, to steal Huntr/x's fans. Led by the evil, yet attractive, Jinu (Ahn Hyo-seop), Saja Boys aim to gain in popularity until they're ready to unleash their demon armies. This is a dazzling watch, with animation reminiscent of the kinetic, colourful Spider-Verse movies but with a bold Korean twist. The jokes are universal but K-pop fans can also enjoy cheeky nods to real-life bands (Saja Boys's six-pack-flaunting member "Abs" could well be San from Ateez, for example). As for the music: there's a reason lead track Golden hit number one across the world, including in the UK. – Jayne Nelson 2. My Neighbour Totoro - and more Studio Ghibli films Set in the 1950s, this charming tale draws on the childhood experiences of director Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away). Left alone while their father frets over the condition of their mother in a nearby hospital, Satsuki and her younger sister Mei begin exploring their new house in the country and are soon having fantastical adventures with soot balls known as "dustbunnies", a 12-legged cat bus and furry giant Totoro. Everything sings of the innocence and wonderment of youth and, while some may bemoan the minimalist storyline, the graphics are an utter delight. – David Parkinson NOTE: We could have populated this list entirely with Studio Ghibli films – there are a huge range of wonderful options from the beloved animation studio currently streaming, with Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service and Howl's Moving Castle among the others which are well worth checking out. 3. Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio Mexican auteur Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water) brings his distinctive style to this wondrous stop-motion adaptation of Carlo Collodi's timeless fable. Ingeniously transposing the story to Benito Mussolini's fascist Italy in the 1930s, the film sees anguished woodcarver Geppetto (voiced by David Bradley) crafting the titular puppet (Gregory Mann) following a tragic incident. Ewan McGregor turns in a delightful performance as the talking cricket who serves as narrator. The animation is stunning, especially in the sequences where the director leans into the source novel's surrealism, while Alexandre Desplat's atmospheric score is spellbinding. Del Toro has spoken at length about Pinocchio's influence on his life and career, and this intricate film is a clear passion project made with love and care. With sensitivity and heart, it explores grief, war, and the question of what it truly means to be human. – Patrick Cremona 4. Back to the Future This irresistible combination of dazzling special effects and sly comedy propelled Michael J Fox to stardom and Robert Zemeckis to the front rank of Hollywood directors. And time has not robbed it of any of its vitality. Fox plays the young student who travels back in time to the 1950s and acts as matchmaker for his future parents, who are showing no sign of falling in love. It's beautifully played by the cast (honourable mentions to Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Crispin Glover), and makes the most of an ingenious script from Bob Gale and Zemeckis that finds time to poke fun at 50s icons and lifestyles between the bouts of time-travelling. Zemeckis's direction is equally adroit and he never lets the effects swamp the film. – John Ferguson 5. Mary and the Witch's Flower View Green Video on the source website A curious girl finds a magic flower and is whisked away to a land of witches in this vivid animated adventure. It's directed by Studio Ghibli alumnus Hiromasa Yonebayashi (Arriety, When Marnie Was There), who takes us on a colourful ride filled with fantastic creatures and dastardly villains, brought to life by an excellent English voice cast including Kate Winslet and Jim Broadbent. This sweet and simple story may lack the emotional heft of classic Japanese anime, but it gets the basics right. And, in Mary, the film also has a different kind of hero, one whose journey is as much about self-acceptance as it is saving the day. – Victoria Luxford 6. IF Writer/director and actor John Krasinski follows his A Quiet Place films with a gentler, if saggy and derivative take on family trauma in this child-friendly fantasy. Cailey Fleming plays 12-year-old Bea, whose mother has died and whose father (Krasinski) awaits an operation. Living with her grandma (Fiona Shaw) in New York, Bea begins seeing cutesy "IFs" (imaginary friends) and helps neighbour Cal (Ryan Reynolds) find these affable creatures' childhood pals. Krasinski seems set on making a live-action Pixar equivalent – echoes of Monsters, Inc and more mount up - but the animation studio's precision-honed plotting and comedy elude him as IF meanders through Bea's healing arc. The huge cast of A-listers voicing the CG IFs proves indulgent, diluting the focus further, though Fleming and Reynolds's measured leads provide anchoring charm. A visit to the IFs' magical world adds flashes of invention, too, before the finale's inevitable tug on the heartstrings. Amid hazily defined homilies about remembering lost loved ones, Krasinski's warm-hearted muddle slips rather too readily from the memory. – Kevin Harley 7. Nimona This animated adaptation of ND Stevenson's graphic novel fuses medievalism with neon-bright futurism. Ballister Boldheart (voiced by Riz Ahmed) is made a knight, one of many who've vowed to protect his city from an ancient monster beyond its walls. Just moments later, however, he's framed for murder and goes on the run - pursued by fellow knight Ambrosius Goldenloin (Eugene Lee Yang), who's also his boyfriend. Boldheart's plight attracts the attention of the peculiar Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz), a shapeshifting pink weirdo who enjoys a fight. A tentative bond forms between the rogue knight and the homicidal "monster" in a film that successfully explores the themes of friendship, diversity and acceptance. Visually, Nimona is stunning, its inventive 2D animation blending with eye-popping 3D design. The action set pieces are thrilling, too, although possibly a little intense for very young audiences. While some of the plot twists are easy to guess, it doesn't spoil what is an otherwise fresh and exhilarating adventure. – Jayne Nelson 8. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl West Wallaby Street's dynamic duo return for their first major adventure since 2008's A Matter of Loaf and Death, and find themselves pitted against an old foe. All is well with Wallace's latest invention, a super-efficient automated garden gnome called Norbot, until it comes to the attention of their old nemesis from The Wrong Trousers, the dastardly Feathers McGraw. Hacking into the cheese-loving pals' computer system from his prison cell in the zoo, McGraw takes control of the bot, mass-replicates it and triggers a crime wave, framing Wallace in the process. Consequently, it's up to Gromit to clear his owner's name and bring the bad guy to book, with the help of a plucky policewoman. Laughs, jeopardy and outrageous physical comedy ensue, with the result significantly better paced than the only previous feature-length instalment in the franchise, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Creator and co-director Nick Park ensures the expected elements are in place: a gag-packed script, magnificent set design and a healthy helping of bonkers gadgetry. Taking over from the late Peter Sallis, Ben Whitehead ticks all the right boxes as the voice of Wallace, ensuring a smooth transition that sustains the fun millions of fans have come to expect. – Terry Staunton 9. Bridge to Terabithia Two young outsiders find sanctuary in a world of imagination in this charming fantasy. Based on Katherine Paterson's children's novel, it's an emotionally rich testament to the life-changing power of friendship. Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb are wonderful as ten-year-old misfits Jess and Leslie, who are drawn together by their mutual alienation and delightful creativity. After an awkward introduction, they become inseparable, inventing a magical imaginary kingdom known as Terabithia (a homage to CS Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia) in their local woods. This attractive realm and its fantastical creatures provide a showcase for a wealth of enjoyable digital effects. Yet, ironically, it's the duo's mundane daily experiences and the way their secret exploits gradually empower them at school that are the story's greatest strengths. In his debut movie as director, former Rugrats animator Gabor Csupo tackles pre-teen issues with both wit and sensitivity, while the film's unexpectedly tragic turn makes the final segment particularly affecting. – Sloan Freer 10. Chicken Run This feathered pastiche of such PoW classics as The Great Escape and Stalag 17 is an awesome achievement by those clever film-makers at Aardman Animation. Rocky (voiced by Mel Gibson) is a "lone free-ranger" rooster who promises to help the hens in Mr and Mrs Tweedy's high-security egg farm find a way to freedom. The nods to classic film moments are funny and plentiful, the largely British voice cast (Julia Sawalha, Jane Horrocks, Miranda Richardson, Timothy Spall) lends moments of humour and pathos, and the set pieces are exhilarating in their ingenuity and comic élan. – David Parkinson 11. The Mitchells vs the Machines View Green Video on the source website With its eye-popping animation, gleefully anarchic humour and heartfelt father-daughter narrative, this dazzling comedy is every bit the kind of film you'd expect from the producers of The Lego Movie and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Movie-loving teenager Katie (voiced by Broad City's Abbi Jacobson) can't wait to go to university, not least to get away from her overprotective dad (Danny McBride). A fraught situation is made worse when he packs the whole family into the car to take Katie to college, only for their road trip to be thrown off course by a robot uprising. Can the Mitchells set aside their differences and save the planet? Though it's stuffed with visual gags and outrageously funny set pieces (many involving pet pug Doug), the film never loses sight of its human characters. They imbue this kaleidoscopic feast for the eyes with real heart, ensuring that while The Mitchells vs the Machines is a nonstop gag-fest, it's also a warm and witty celebration of family. And pugs. – Josh Winning 12. The Sea Beast Imagine if Moby Dick's Captain Ahab wasn't on a mission of revenge against a white whale. Instead, his life's quest was to kill a gigantic red sea monster that looked like Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon. That's the premise of this hugely entertaining animated film that follows the crew of a hunting ship, the Inevitable, as they seek out murderous sea beasts to destroy. Captain Crow (Jared Harris) and Jacob (Karl Urban) have fought hundreds of watery battles with tentacled monsters. However, it isn't until the arrival on board of a child named Maisie (Zaris-Angel Hator) that things start to go wrong. Directed and co-written by Moana's Chris Williams, The Sea Beast has a lot of fun smashing together genres (pirates vs King Kong, anyone?). The film is given extra punch thanks to a witty script, inventive animation and a spirited performance from Hator, who previously played the lead in the West End production of Matilda. – Jayne Nelson 13. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Chiwetel Ejiofor won the best actor Bafta for 12 Years a Slave and has chosen a similarly stirring, against-the-odds true story for his directorial debut. The star has also adapted William Kamkwamba's memoir that's set in a small village in Malawi in 2001 when the 13-year-old William overcame school expulsion and parental mistrust to create a crop-saving wind turbine with the aid of a library book and a bicycle dynamo. Maxwell Simba (in his debut) carries the focal role of William with conviction and some aplomb, while Ejiofor gives a supporting performance of controlled power as the boy's embattled father, Trywell. The film adopts an episodic narrative structure - using the chapter titles of sowing, growing, harvest, hunger and wind - to illustrate the arduous agrarian existence experienced by Trywell and his fellow villagers. Constantly at the mercy of a climate that can parch or flood the land at any given moment, the farmers are also hamstrung by corrupt government officials (who are not shy at handing out beatings) and rapacious capitalism (tobacco industry-induced deforestation). It's sensitively directed and Ejiofor strives to keep things real with much of the dialogue in Chichewa. It's no bad thing to have Mike Leigh's regular cameraman Dick Pope (Mr Turner, Peterloo) on board to provide a vivid and visceral authenticity. Meanwhile, Antonio Pinto's subtle score gently underpins a story that avoids lazy lapses into sentimentality. The result is a genuinely life-affirming tale that displays a refreshingly unpatronising view of the challenges facing communities in 21st-century Africa and acts as a ringing endorsement of the importance of education. – Jeremy Aspinall 14. The Greatest Showman Take everything in this fictionialised biopic of circus inventor PT Barnum with a pinch of salt and you'll love the glitz, glamour and glow of an all-singing, all-dancing musical in the grand old Hollywood tradition. The self-confessed "Prince of Humbug", Barnum (Hugh Jackman) goes from marrying his childhood sweetheart (Michelle Williams) and redundancy to fame and fortune thanks to the popularity of his big top "Freak Show". Jackman is a superb ringmaster with Zac Efron (as Barnum's showbiz partner) and Rebecca Ferguson (as Jenny Lind, "The Swedish Nightingale") providing top-notch support. La La Land lyricists Benj Pasek and Justin Paul's songs provide the melodic counterpoint to some extravagantly staged routines, with Lind's power-ballad showstopper Never Enough among the musical highlights. – Alan Jones 15. The Karate Kid This heart-warming, junior version of Rocky - both films were directed by John G Avildsen - became a massive worldwide success, spawning a series of sequels plus hit Netflix show Cobra Kai. Ralph Macchio plays the bullied teen who is taught the secrets of karate by wise old Pat Morita and turns the tables on his tormentors. Macchio rises above the trite script to deliver a sympathetic and believable performance, while Morita is equally good value - and look out, too, for Elisabeth Shue in an early role. This is certainly the best in the film series. – John Ferguson 16. Orion and the Dark A writer with great form in dissecting adult neuroses, Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich) turns to childhood anxieties with this endearing if derivative DreamWorks animation. Young Orion (voiced by Jacob Tremblay) is scared of everything from "murder clowns" to mosquitoes, but mostly fears the dark. Duly, the benign embodiment of darkness (Paul Walter Hauser) visits, intent on soothing Orion's fears. A brisk, bright buddy movie follows, as Orion and the Dark join other playfully realised "night entities" - Insomnia, Quiet, Unexplained Noises etc - as they carry out their work. Adapting Emma Yarlett's picture book alongside first-time feature director Sean Charmatz, Kaufman teases dry humour from Orion's hang-ups and the night crew's spiky banter. Further fresh touches include Werner Herzog's voice cameo, a spry song by The Flaming Lips and a nightmarish cucumber dentist, which help to offset distracting echoes of manifold Pixar films elsewhere. Orion and the Dark may be dramatically lightweight and heavy on homilies, but Kaufman's surreal imagination and empathy for the awkward make for a vivid, winning and wryly relatable charmer. – Kevin Harley 17. Enola Holmes Sherlock's little sister proves to be no mean sleuth herself in this fun adventure, based on the popular novels by Nancy Springer and starring a headstrong Millie Bobby Brown in the title role. Free-spirited Enola awakes on her 16th birthday to find her mother (Helena Bonham Carter) missing, leaving behind an odd assortment of gifts but no apparent clue as to where she's gone or why. Against the wishes of her elder brothers (Henry Cavill as the famous detective, Sam Claflin as the stuffy Mycroft), she absconds from her uptight finishing school and sets out to solve the mystery. It's a knockabout yarn that never takes itself too seriously, blessed with a witty script and taut action. There's so much to enjoy in Brown's captivating central performance, especially her numerous asides to camera that take the viewer along for the ride. The plot may be a little sticky in places, but the occasional hiccups don't hang around, and as the opening salvo in a potential franchise it'll do just nicely. – Terry Staunton 18. Jurassic Park View Green Video on the source website Steven Spielberg soared to new heights with this massively successful adventure that spawned a monster-sized franchise. The world's ultimate theme park, featuring genetically re-created dinosaurs, is about to open and owner Richard Attenborough decides to give a sneak preview to a select few, including scientists Sam Neill and Laura Dern. However, all is not well in this new Garden of Eden and, in the jungle, the creatures are restless. (When movie scientists tamper with nature, you just know something will go wrong!) T rex and her chums may be the stars of the show, but Spielberg orchestrates the action with such effortless verve that, even today, it's hard not to be transfixed by the thrilling spectacle and the sheer scale of the director's vision. – John Ferguson 19. Corpse Bride Made around the same time as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this wonderful fantasy appeared in what was a vintage year for fans of the director. This exquisitely crafted example of stop-motion animation puts a hip spin on a Russian folk tale, with shy Victor Van Dort (voiced by Johnny Depp) wandering into the woods to practise his marriage vows and ending up hitched to a corpse (Helena Bonham Carter) – a passionate, blue-hued beauty with a maggot living in her eye. She whisks him off to a curiously vibrant subterranean land, but this enchanting world and his new bride's increasingly apparent charms are little comfort to Victor when he'd rather be married to his living, breathing fiancée Victoria (Emily Watson) above ground. There's a strong resemblance here to Burton's previous foray into feature animation, The Nightmare before Christmas, but this time the gothic morbidity is tinged with more sweetness, and the consistently funny and often lyrical script is far better. – Leslie Felperin 20. Little Women Told with abundant affection, the eighth adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's novel reaches the screen courtesy of Lady Bird's Greta Gerwig. Evoking the ramshackle loveliness of Meet Me in St Louis, it's the story of the March sisters - including Saoirse Ronan's trailblazing tomboy Jo and Florence Pugh's petulant aspiring artist Amy – who are coming of age in 1860s New England. The giddy promise of girlhood and the triumphs and disappointments that follow are captured in a honey glow, accompanied by a vigorous Alexandre Desplat score that explodes with joy and sorrow. While keeping largely faithful to the text, Gerwig tweaks the structure and draws out the girls' strengths, freshening it up with some fluid camerawork and outbreaks of uninhibited laughter. Timothée Chalamet does some anguished pouting as love interest Laurie, while Meryl Streep appears as Aunt March and Laura Dern as Marmee - quite the acting ensemble. For a film-maker so in tune with contemporary concerns, it's surprising how emphatically Gerwig embraces the essence of the material; those expecting a radical reinvention may have to settle for being bowled over by charm. – Emma Simmonds Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How Oscar-nominated film The Secret Agent was born out of resistance to the far right
Academy Award-nominated actor Wagner Moura speaks exclusively to Radio Times about the acclaimed new Brazilian film.
Some very fine films are up for best picture at this year's upcoming Academy Awards, with Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another and Ryan Coogler's Sinners the two currently looking most likely to emerge as winner of the category. But The Secret Agent – which will become the last of the nominees to arrive in UK cinemas when it is released tomorrow (Friday 20th February) – might just be the pick of the bunch. The new film from writer/director Kleber Mendonça Filho is the second Brazilian film in two years to make the best picture line-up after Walter Selles's drama I'm Still Here achieved the same feat last year. Like that film, it explores a tumultuous period in the country's history – the military dictatorship that existed between 1964 and 1985 – although unlike it, it tells a fictional story inspired by the atmosphere of the time rather than a true story. Narcos and Civil War star Wagner Moura, who has himself been nominated for best actor at the Oscars, takes on the lead role in the film. And although he was only one-year old at the time of it's 1977 setting, he didn't need too much preparation when it came to learning about the period in question. "I have very vivid memories of what the dictatorship was," he explained in conversation with Radio Times. "And I also directed a film in 2018 [political thriller Marighella] that took place during the dictatorship. So I had studied a lot, read a lot about what Brazil was – socially, economically, culturally, politically – back in those times. "But most of all I think that the logic of the dictatorship is still very present in Brazil. It's not like the dictatorship ended in 1985 and that was it. The echoes of the dictatorship are still very present. From 2018 to 2022 we had a far right president, [Jair] Bolsonaro – who by the way is in jail right now for attempting against democracy in Brazil. "This man is a physical manifestation of these echoes of the dictatorship in the country. So to be honest, it wasn't a big effort to understand the logic of those times." In fact, it was resistance to the Bolsanoro regime that had led Moura and Mendonça Filho to collaborate on this film. The pair have known each other for 20 years, having first met at the Cannes Film Festival when Mendonça Filho interviewed Moura in his old job as a film journalist. Although Moura laughs that the director "was a very mean critic" who wrote "very, very heavy reviews", the two became friends, and as soon as the actor saw Mendonça Filho's debut film Neighboring Sounds in 2012 he knew that he wanted to work with him one day. "I thought it was one of the greatest Brazilian films I had ever seen, and I expressed my desire to work with him," he said. "And it was mutual." View Green Video on the source website Mendonça Filho first invited Moura to star in his surreal 2019 western Bacurau (which is also well worth seeking out) but the actor was unable to accept the offer as he was in the process of directing his own film at that time. But for The Secret Agent, the stars aligned. "What really brought us together in this project was politics," he explained. "What it was to be in Brazil under a wannabe dictator, what it was when Brazil took this sharp turn to the right with the President that openly praised the dictatorship, praised the torturers, the killers, and people that worked for the dictatorship. "And Kleber and I, we see the role of an artist in a very similar way. We are very different from one another, but we see our role as artists in a very similar way. And we were both very vocal against that particular government, and we both suffered the consequences of that. I had my film censored in Brazil. Kleber had problems too. "So I think that what put us together, actually, to do The Secret Agent, was our shared perplexity over what was going on in the country, during that time.” Of course, the Bolsanaro era might now be at an end – since 2023 the Brazilian government has been led by the left-wing politician Lula – but one of the main themes of The Secret Agent is the importance of addressing history, of exploring the collective trauma suffered by the country's people during dark times. And according to Moura, this speaks to one of the great powers of film in general. “When I was a boy, because I grew up during the dictatorship, the history that I was taught when I was a kid was completely wrong," he explained. "It's a film about the importance of collective memory, or how an entire generation can be traumatised and how that impacts the soul of the country. So, I think that films are important in that sense. I don't believe that we have to make films for that, but it's good they end up having this function." One of the most fascinating aspects of The Secret Agent relates to how much information is revealed and when. The film adopts a framing device that sees a history student in the modern day learning about the era and the activities of Moura's character – who at various points in the story goes by both 'Armando' and 'Marcelo' – through audio recordings and newspaper archives. Because the information she has at her disposal is incomplete, so is our picture of the character, something which communicates the fact that many records of dissidents at the time are now tragically lost. But although the audience are told a fragmented story, Moura was keen to fill in the gaps of his character's backstory as much as he could for his own benefit as an actor. "I think that's usually what actors do," he said. "But I really like how Kleber doesn't spoon-feed the audience with answers. It makes the audience part of the game. "Until, like, an hour-and-a-half into the film, you don't really know what's going on, it's like putting the pieces of the puzzle together and understanding parts of what that character is. And I really like that. I really like that he doesn't provide answers." He continued: "There are things that I think happened in a [certain] way, and Kleber might think that it happened in another way, and you might think that it's different for yourself. So I like that a lot. But for sure, as an actor, I had my own answers that don't necessarily match Kleber's answers or your takes on that." One thing that the film does do is provide some interesting context for the film's setting – the northeastern city of Recife. The action regularly diverts from the main plot line to provide all sorts of tangents focusing on the local community and the people Armando comes into contact with, at one point even indulging in a fantasy sequence exploring a local legend known as the hairy leg. This ties in with Mendonça Filho's previous film – the 2023 documentary Pictures of Ghosts – which explored the various 20th century cinemas of Recife, many of which are no longer operating. "The Secret Agent wouldn't exist if he hadn't directed that film," Moura said. "Which is his interest in Recife, in the archeology of the centre of Recife. The old movie theater, São Luiz, is kind of a character in this film as well as the city and the legends like the hairy leg. "All these things make the cultural aspects of the Northeast of Brazil, of Recife... I think they are very important part of of what The Secret Agent is. And I love it." Towards the end of our conversation we come back round to the subject of Brazilian cinema more generally, and specifically the recent boost it's received when it comes to international recognition at major awards ceremonies. Of course, Brazilian cinema has a deep, rich history – Moura mentions everything from Walter Selles's 1995 action film Foreign Land to Eduardo Coutinho's 1984 documentary Twenty Years Later to Glauber Rocha's revisionist western Black God, White Devil – but this latest uptick, he explained, is not a coincidence. "It's a good moment for Brazilian cinema, for sure," he said. "Since we got rid of the fascist government that is in jail right now, we now have – again – a president and a government that likes culture. Because our production is still very dependent on government funds – so it's not by chance that we are living in a good moment." The Secret Agent is released in UK cinemas on Friday 20th February 2026. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Peaky Blinders movie trailer confirms Barry Keoghan's role in surprise twist as he faces off with Cillian Murphy
The latest trailer for the movie spin-off reveals a lot of new information.
Ever since it was announced that Barry Keoghan would be joining the cast of Peaky Blinders for upcoming film spin-off The Immortal Man, there has been a lot of speculation about who the Saltburn and Banshees of Inisherin star might be playing. One theory which gained a lot of traction suggested he could be set to star as Duke Shelby, the son of Cillian Murphy's Tommy, and a new trailer for the movie has now confirmed that that is indeed the case. The trailer – which follows an earlier teaser released on Christmas Eve – opens with voiceover from Rebecca Ferguson's mysterious character saying: "Tommy, you live in a house haunted with ghosts of people who died, because of you." She then adds: "You abandoned your kingdom, you abandoned your son" before we cut do a very brief shot of Murphy and Keoghan facing each other. Later, we see Tommy's sister Ada (Sophie Rundle) speaking with him inside a car, explaining: "Your gypsy son is running the Peaky Blinders like its 1919 all over again" something which is soon illustrated by scenes of Duke overseeing violent activity. "I can't help him, because I'm not that man anymore," Tommy later laments. And it looks as if things are going to get very nasty; we see Tim Roth's character – who appears to be a Nazi – attempting to enlist Duke in a mission that will help decide the war for Germany. His response? "The world don't give a f**k about me, and I don't give a f**k about it." The trailer also includes Tommy's arrival back at the Garrison pub, the return of Stephen Graham's Hayden Stagg and a glimpse of Jay Lycurgo's new character, alongside all sorts of explosive scenes. Meanwhile it ends with a tease of a confrontation between Tommy and his son – watch it in full below: View oEmbed on the source website Tommy's illegitimate son Duke was previously portrayed by Conrad Khan and was introduced in the final season of the show as a thief whose existence Tommy had previously been unaware of. It appears he's certainly risen the ranks during his father's self-imposed exile. The official synopsis for the film reads: "Birmingham, 1940. Amidst the chaos of WWII, Tommy Shelby is driven back from a self-imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet. "With the future of the family and the country at stake, Tommy must face his own demons, and choose whether to confront his legacy, or burn it to the ground. By order of the Peaky Blinders…" Meanwhile, alongside the trailer – and a selection of newly released stills – details of the film's official soundtrack have also been unveiled, including news of a newly recorded version of Nick Cave’s Red Right Hand which served as the TV show's iconic theme song. According to a release, the soundtrack features 36 tracks in total, with 5 brand new original recordings and input from artists including Cave, Fontaines DC, Lankum, and McLusky. Also included are two "transformative" Massive Attack covers – one by Fontaines frontman Grian Chatten and the other by Girl In The Year Above. Peaky Blinders is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. The movie will be released in cinemas on 6th March 2026 and on Netflix on 20th March 2026 – sign up from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media. Check out more of our Film and Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Bad Bunny to lead all-star "epic" historical drama Porto Rico opposite Oscar winner
This will be the hugely popular Grammy-winning musician's first leading film role – and he's joined by an all-star supporting cast.
Just a few weeks on from his groundbreaking performance at the Super Bowl, it's been announced that Puerto Rican megastar Bad Bunny is set to lead the cast of a brand new film titled Porto Rico. The historical epic is billed as a love letter to Puerto Rico and is helmed by René "Residente" Pérez Joglar, himself a multiple Grammy Award-winning musician, in his feature directorial debut. As first reported by Deadline, Joglar wrote the script alongside Oscar-winning screenwriter Alexander Dinelaris (Birdman). Bad Bunny – who will be credited under his full name Benito Martínez Ocasio – is expected to star as José Maldonado Román, a Puerto Rican revolutionary commonly known as Águila Blanca (White Eagle). Roman lived between 1874 and 1932, and it was previously announced that the film would document his life, including how he led a gang of ex-convicts in an anti-colonial struggle while fighting to build the island's national identity. The film has been described as "inspired by true events" so it's not clear if it will stick entirely to real history or reimagine the events in a slightly fictionalised form, but Residente has described the project as "a reaffirmation of who we are — told with the intensity and honesty that our history deserves." "I have dreamed of making a film about my country since I was a child," he said, adding that "Puerto Rico’s true history has always been surrounded by controversy." View Green Video on the source website While this will be Ocasio's first leading role, he's already built up a solid resume of big screen credits, appearing in the supporting cast of major films such as Bullet Train, Cassandro and Caught Stealing, in addition to a recurring role on Netflix TV series Narcos: Mexico. He's joined in Porto Rico by a cast that includes plenty of A-list talent, with roles for Edward Norton, Viggo Mortensen and Javier Bardem, though details on their roles has not been disclosed at this stage. Meanwhile, Mexican auteur Alejandro G Iñárritu, who has won Oscars for his work on Birdman and The Revenant, serves as an executive producer. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Joe Keery reveals Stranger Things had nothing to do with choice to star in his new sci-fi movie
Keery stars alongside Liam Neeson, Lesley Manville and Barbarian's Georgina Campbell in the new sci-fi film.
Hardly any time has passed since Stranger Things wrapped up its final season, but one of the Netflix hit's biggest stars is already back in another project that straddles the sci-fi and horror genres. Joe Keery has a lead role alongside Barbarian's Georgina Campbell in new film Cold Storage, which is adapted by prolific screenwriter David Koepp from his own novel of the same name, and arrives in UK cinemas this weekend. Given the two projects occupy the same genre, you might wonder if that connection was what convinced Keery to sign up. But according to the star – who actually filmed Cold Storage before the final run of Stranger Things – it didn't really factor into his thinking at all. "To be honest with you, the main appeal was David [Koepp], initially," he explained during an exclusive interview with RadioTimes, referencing the screenwriter behind everything from Jurassic Park, Spider-Man and Mission: Impossible to Carlito's Way, Panic Room and Black Bag. "I'm a fan of his" he continued. "I feel like, in a way, his work has inspired – whether people know it or not, so many people. Just because I feel like his writing and influence has like permeated the last 30 years of cinema history. "[He's] so good at character, so I was just really interested in the character. And thought it was, like, a really fun project. I guess that was the appeal, not necessarily based off of anything Stranger Things." View Green Video on the source website In the film, Keery plays Travis, an employee at a self-storage company whose first shift with new co-worker Naomi (Campbell) takes an unexpected turn when they find themselves fighting off a parasitic fungus that had been secretly stored underneath their facility by the government. The cast also includes roles for Liam Neeson and Lesley Manville as the scientists who had first brought the fungus back from space – and who are called upon to step in and save the day. And Neeson explained that – just like Keery – Koepp's screenplay had been the main attraction for him. "I've been a fan of David's for many years as a screenwriter," he said. "I didn't know he was a novelist, but I thoroughly enjoyed Cold Storage, the book. He beautifully transferred that to a screenplay. It was a real page turner [with a] lovely comedic strain going through it, an edge of your seat thriller. "And then I could imagine the CGI that would have to go into it," he added. "I thought they did a wonderful job. I just saw it two nights ago, the finished film and thought was really, really good in every department. And the kids were – I call them kids – Joe and Georgina, were fantastic." Cold Storage is released in UK cinemas on Friday 20 February 2026. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
10 essential Robert Duvall films to watch in tribute to The Godfather icon
The legendary actor has passed away at the age of 95.
In the last year or so, we've lost so many of the greats of the New Hollywood era – that defining movement in American film that brought us an incredible variety of complex, layered and captivating pieces of cinema in the late '60s and '70s. After Gene Hackman, Robert Redford and Diane Keaton all passed away in 2025, yesterday brought the sad news that legendary character actor Robert Duvall had died at the age of 95. The news was announced in a statement by his wife Luciana, who wrote that he had passed "peacefully" at their home in Middleburg, Virginia. "To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller," she added. "To me, he was simply everything. His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court." Duvall's career was one marked by excellence across more than six decades, excelling in a number of seminal films in both supporting and leading roles. Indeed, with his very first film credit, he was already playing an indelible character in an American classic – starring as Boo Radley in Robert Mulligan's adaptation of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. It's for his work in the 70s for which Duvall will likely be most remembered. He was the only actor to star in all four of Francis Ford Coppola's unrivalled streak of hits in that decade (though his small part in the magnificent The Conversation was uncredited) with his Oscar-nominated roles as consigliere Tom Hagen in The Godfather films and as Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore in Apocalypse Now particularly iconic. Few lines in cinema history have been more immortalised than the latter's declaration that he loves the smell of napalm in the morning. View Green Video on the source website In total, Duvall was nominated for seven Oscars, winning just the once for his leading turn in 1983 drama Tender Mercies, with his final nomination coming for his supporting role in The Judge in 2014. Meanwhile, alongside the classics, there were also plenty of interesting oddities – including an unlikely collaboration with Ally McCoist for Scottish football film A Shot at Glory in 2002 – meaning he leaves behind a singular filmography filled with a huge variety of fascinating roles. We've picked out ten of the best from that filmography below – scroll down for our picks on what films to watch to pay tribute to a true Hollywood icon. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning modern classic by Harper Lee, this Depression-era tale of small-town insularity and racial inequality was the break-out film of director Robert Mulligan and the debut of Robert Duvall. Seen through the child’s eyes of a brother and sister in Maycomb, Alabama, it distils the numerous stories told in the novel down to two key strands: the mystery surrounding reclusive Boo Radley (Duvall), a childlike man whom the kids imagine as a monstrous bogeyman; and the defence by their widowed father, lawyer Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck, in a role that defined his career and earned him a best actor Oscar), of a black man accused of the rape of a white woman. The town’s lynch-mob reaction to the trial proves an education for the two children, as do the ultimate revelations about Boo. A fine, moving, informative period piece for all ages, To Kill a Mockingbird is as much an abiding favourite as the book. – Andrew Collins THX 1138 (1971) The debut feature from Star Wars maestro George Lucas is a bleak, claustrophobic affair which is light years away from the straightforward heroics of Luke Skywalker and co. The always excellent Robert Duvall takes the title role as a man quietly rebelling against a repressive world where everyone has to have Yul Brynner haircuts, and the police are as frighteningly bland as a McDonald’s assistant. The obtuse script doesn't help, but it looks wonderful and Lucas conjures up a genuinely chilling air. Executive producer is none other than Francis Ford Coppola, made under the banner of his Zoetrope production company. – John Ferguson The Godfather (1972) This elegiac organised-crime saga from the young Francis Ford Coppola is one of the all-time high-water marks of American cinema, rich with subtle acting and blessed with stunning cinematography from Gordon Willis. It proves that an intelligent, sometimes slow-moving drama with impeccable artistic credentials can create queues around the block. Taken with its 1974 sequel, it manages to define the age in which it was made, while remaining a period piece. Beginning after the Second World War, it traces the handover of power within the Corleone family, from the old world values of Don Vito (a heavily disguised but stately Marlon Brando) to his son, the white sheep Michael (Al Pacino, proving that his risky casting was inspired). The Mafia is never mentioned by name, but underneath all the slayings and sinister "offers you can’t refuse", this is an immigrant family drama about assimilation, blood loyalty and honour. – Andrew Collins The Godfather Part II (1974) In The Godfather, Don Corleone's war hero son Michael (Al Pacino) turns into a man who orders death like room service. In this sequel, Michael is a symbol of an America born of immigrant idealism and dying of corruption. The only moral support is the Family. Breathtaking in scope, Part II also shows the early life of the Don, brilliantly portrayed by Robert De Niro, as he flees Sicily and sails for New York. These sequences have the grandeur of a silent movie by DW Griffith or Erich von Stroheim; the later sequences, with Michael in Cuba, are clumsy and confusing, though the climax is as chilling as the look on Michael's face when he realises that even Family members can be rubbed out. Pacino gives a monumental performance, and it was an equally monumental crime that he never won an Oscar for it. – Adrian Turner Network (1976) This was a thunderous, strangely eerie swansong for Peter Finch, who plays a bilious and increasingly demented TV anchorman, ranting on air against his powerlessness. It’s a bravura performance from Finch – who was awarded a posthumous Oscar – given full flight by Paddy Chayefsky's daring, sumptuously satirical script, which throws a continuous hail of barbs at the electronic eye. Sidney Lumet directs with wild aplomb, allowing Finch free rein and keeping up a furious pace. Criticised by some at the time for a certain naivety and lack of subtlety, this remains one of the most devastating condemnations of the media's urge to exploit. – Sue Heal The Great Santini (1979) Shot in the historic town of Beaufort, South Carolina, and produced by Bing Crosby's company, this adaptation of Pat Conroy's novel has a title that suggests it's a story about an escapologist or a racing driver. In fact, it's about a retired fighter pilot called Bull Meechum (nicknamed Santini), whose drunkenness makes life a misery for his wife (Blythe Danner) and children. Like that other Conroy tale, The Prince of Tides, it's a thick slice of Deep South angst and sour-mash philosophy in which drink turns dialogue into poetry. But Robert Duvall is magnificent in the lead role and earned an Oscar nomination, as did Michael O'Keefe as his eldest son. – Adrian Turner Apocalypse Now (1979) Director Francis Coppola inherited a modest movie about the Vietnam War from writer John Milius and turned it into this phantasmagorical ride, in which Martin Sheen travels up the Mekong river to terminate Marlon Brando’s rebel command "with extreme prejudice". Working under difficult conditions in the Philippines and running way over budget, Coppola delivered a harrowing masterwork that bursts with malarial, mystical images, such as Playboy playmates in the jungle and the Wagnerian helicopter attack that ends with marines surfing and Robert Duvall famously saying, "I love the smell of napalm in the morning." Notable faces in support include Harrison Ford and Dennis Hopper, the latter playing a photographer among the fanatical Brando followers. Coppola restored a whopping 50 minutes of extra footage for Apocalypse Now Redux, which was released in 2001. – Adrian Turner Tender Mercies (1983) A spare, lean performance from spare, lean Robert Duvall won him his first and only Oscar. Duvall wakes up, after a drunken binge, in a Texan motel owned by religious widow Tess Harper and her young son Allan Hubbard. Having failed once in both his life and career as a country singer (Duvall sings his own songs) he hesitatingly tries again with Harper. Australian director Bruce Beresford shows a sympathetic connection to the hot dusty Texan locations for his first Hollywood film and screenwriter Horton Foote (who also won an Oscar) provides a realistic pace. As with Foote's The Trip to Bountiful, the episodic and atmospheric story is a poignant portrayal of redemption. – Frances Lass Falling Down (1993) Made from a script that was rejected by every major Hollywood studio, this is a storming portrait of urban alienation in America. Some stateside critics were quick to brand the film racist, as Michael Douglas’s white-collar worker snaps one day, abandons his car in gridlock and engages in a violent spree that sees him destroy a Korean store and take on a Latino gang. But Douglas is no racist vigilante. In director Joel Schumacher’s bold, believable and darkly funny film, he is a man consumed by rage at his own powerlessness, who reacts with violence to anyone who tries to prevent him from reaching "home" – now more of a concept than a place. The film loses momentum towards the end, but Douglas gives a superb performance and he’s matched by the excellent Robert Duvall as an ageing, world-weary cop tackling his last case before retirement. – Alan Jones The Apostle (1997) Robert Duvall writes, produces, directs and stars in this beautifully detailed character study of a Pentecostal preacher on a quest for atonement. The journey begins when his wife (Farrah Fawcett) has an affair with a younger minister, forcing him to take a long, hard look at his own life, the rural Texan community he serves and the Word of God itself. Expertly using little-seen Bible Belt locations and a great supporting cast (that includes Miranda Richardson and Billy Bob Thornton), Duvall then proceeds to act everybody else off the screen. The result is an engrossing labour of love and a literal tour de force. – Alan Jones Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How to watch Wuthering Heights – when is it coming to streaming?
Emerald Fennell's starry Brontë adaptation already looks set to be one of the most talked about movies of 2026.
Ever since Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights was announced, almost everything about the Saltburn filmmaker’s retelling of Emily Brontë’s Gothic novel has sparked backlash. From the casting of Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie and the costumes, to the Charli xcx-penned soundtrack and the film’s overtly erotic tone, the film has certainly been dividing opinions. With so much buzz around the film – both positive and negative – it’s hardly surprising that the film has proved to be a huge box-office success, raking in $83 million worldwide on its opening weekend, which marks the biggest global debut of the year to date. But if you don’t fancy watching the film in cinemas, you might be wondering when it’s set to become available to stream from the comfort of your own home. Read on for everything you need to know about the release of Wuthering Heights. When is Wuthering Heights coming to streaming? As with all Warner Bros cinematic releases, the film will eventually be released on HBO Max in the US – and with that platform finally launching on this side of the Atlantic next month (available as a bundle with Sky and NOW) it seems likely that will be the case in the UK too. The exact date for it's HBO Max premiere is less certain, but Warner Bros tend to wait around two or three months between theatrical release and streaming debut, so we'd probably be looking at late April or early May before you can watch the film on streaming. Should we get more concrete details, we'll keep you updated. Before the movie arrives on HBO Max, it will become available to buy or rent on platforms such as Prime Video and AppleTV. There’s typically about a month to a six-week window between Warner Bros. films’ theatrical release and the moment they debut on digital platforms, meaning the earliest the film could become available on digital platforms is late March. You can currently pre-order the film on Prime Video and <a href="https://apple.sjv.io/c/1236178/435298/7615?subId1=radiotimes-2392428&u=https%3A%2F%2Ftv.apple.com%2Fgb%2Fmovie%2Fwuthering-heights%2Fumc.cmc.1oyq4d498nwaixjpt8g5hnoeg" target="_blank" rel="sponsored" data-vars-ga-outbound-link="https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/wuthering-heights/umc.cmc.1oyq4d498nwaixjpt8g5hnoeg" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlink" data-vars-ga-call-to-action="AppleTV" data-vars-ga-product-id="b4789e9b-d084-459a-a116-8eda6cd91a7e" data-node-id="32.7">AppleTV. Where to watch Wuthering Heights right now The film premiered exclusively in cinemas on Friday 13 February, and as such the only way to watch the film for the foreseeable future will be to take a trip to the pictures. Luckily, there are no shortage of options: the movie is a major release and is playing in just about every cinema in the country following its release, so just check your local to find a time that suits you. Wuthering Heights trailer If you've somehow missed seeing any of the promotional material for the film and want to check out a trailer before committing to a cinema trip, you can find the trailer for the movie below. As you can see, it certainly seems to be going for shock value! View Green Video on the source website Wuthering Heights is available to watch now in UK cinemas. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Silent Witness season 29 cast: New and returning characters in BBC crime drama
Emilia Fox and David Caves return for the 29th season of the long-running forensic crime drama, but who joins them?
Silent Witness has returned to our screens with season 29 – and there’s been a major change, with the team relocating from London to Birmingham to set up a new centre of forensics. But while the location has changed, viewers will be pleased to hear that the cast looks largely the same, with the main four players back on our screens to tackle a new run of cases. This includes Emilia Fox as Dr Nikki Alexander and David Caves as her husband and colleague Jack Hodgson, as well as Maggie Steed as Harriet and Fran Mills as Kit, while there’s also a string of new guest stars this season. The next two episodes of the series, which were initially due to air last week but were postponed until Tuesday (17th February) and Wednesday (18th February), comprise a two-part story titled The Enemy Within. The plot of the episodes centres on the forensics team as they examine a deadly stabbing in Birmingham. Wondering who’s returning and who’s new in season 29? Read on for everything you need to know about the cast. Silent Witness season 29 cast: Who's returning? The main cast of Silent Witness is as follows: Emilia Fox plays Nikki Alexander David Caves plays Jack Hodgson Maggie Steed plays Harriet Maven Francesca Mills plays Kit Brooks For more about the major players in Silent Witness season 29, read on... Emilia Fox plays Nikki Alexander Who is Nikki Alexander? Brought up in South Africa, Nikki chose to stay in England following her parents' death and joined the Lyell team all the way back in 2004. Curious and open-minded, she can be impetuous, but always rises to the challenge when she's up against it. Since first joining the team, Nikki has grown into a skilled and confident pathologist – and she has dealt with a lot of extremely challenging situations, including saving Jack's life in season 16. After sharing a kiss with Jack at the end of season 24 and their relationship growing in seasons 25, 26 and 27, Nikki eventually overcame her doubts about marriage and tied the knot with Jack in a low-key ceremony. "I don't think she was reticent about Jack at all," Fox told RadioTimes.com. "I think she was reticent about what marriage means – how one makes that commitment, and whether you do it with all the pomp and ceremony of a big wedding, or choose something more intimate. "So it was about stripping it back to what marriage meant to her and to them, and he understood that – and that gave us something to play." Fox also said that it was an interesting idea that, for Nikki, "she could explain the science of the body and every organ within it and its function, and yet you can't explain emotions". "And what a complex idea that is for scientists and how they deal with it," she added. "So this present series sees them settling into marriage and into a new life in Birmingham, and all that brings." What else has Emilia Fox been in? Fox first rose to prominence following her turn in Roman Polanski's 2002 film The Pianist and went on to land a number of big-screen roles including The Soul Keeper, 3 Blind Mice and The Republic of Love. Small-screen credits in addition to her long-running Silent Witness stint include roles on Merlin, Delicious and The Trial of Christine Keeler. David Caves plays Jack Hodgson Who is Jack Hodgson? Straight-talking and quick-witted, Jack is a talented and head-strong lead forensic scientist. Guided by his instincts, he relishes a challenge and is confident in his own ability. He possesses the humility to admit his mistakes, but isn't afraid to ruffle a few feathers when necessary. In the season 27 finale, Jack finally proposed to Nikki, and they got married in the season 28 finale – although they didn't have the big wedding Jack initially wanted, favouring something simple instead. "Jack and Nikki are settling into a new home in Birmingham and getting used to The Bowman Centre, trying to find a bit of balance," said Hodgson. "Jack is still the same stubborn, sarcastic fella, just with a bit more self-awareness. He's older and more mature. He's more affected by the trials and tribulations of his work and we see that play out majorly in this series. Jack is really tested in one story, a very personal odyssey he must go on alone." Fox also teased some "big storylines" for jack in this series. "There's a story later in the series that's just really raw - not flashy, just honest," said Caves. "Those are the ones that stick with me." What else has David Caves been in? Although best known for his role as Jack – who he has played since 2013 – Caves has also appeared in the film Jackie, and has a number of theatre credits to his name, including a critically-acclaimed turn as Petruchio for the Royal Shakespeare Company's The Taming of the Shrew in 2011. Maggie Steed plays Harriet Maven Who is Harriet Maven? "The character has taken a big step to move to another city, Birmingham – which they all have – so they're all a bit apprehensive," said Steed, whose character heads up the team. "She continues to try to do her best for the rest of the team and is fiercely loyal to them and would defend them to the deaths. She's a very forthright, witty woman and she continues to be that and is very committed to the team. She's there to make sure everything runs well and is efficient and maintains all its principles. She would also defend them if they ever got into trouble because sometimes the work is dangerous." What else has Maggie Steed been in? You might have watched her in EastEnders, Shine on Hervey Moon, Pie in the Sky, Born and Bred, Chewing Gum and Ten Percent. Francesca Mills plays Kit Brooks Who is Kit Brooks? A crime analyst who joined the team shortly after Harriet. "I think the viewers will see Kit really anchored in her way of working and feeling more confident in her ability to solve complicated crimes, she spent a lot of last year trying to prove herself worthy to be in the room of legends like Nikki Alexander and Harriet Maven so this year she really finds her flow and, alongside Jack, their friendship grows and they work really well together in the new building," said Mills. What else has Francesca Mills been in? You might know her from Harlots, Worzel Gummidge, Pistol and The Witcher: Blood Origin. Silent Witness season 29 new guest cast Episodes 1 and 2 - The Disappearance of Alice Hill Sophie Hopkins (Class) plays Alice Hill - she ran a successful online personal training business with her husband. Alice disappeared several years ago while out jogging. Her body was eventually discovered in some woodland. Dino Fetscher (Under Salt Marsh, Fool Me Once) plays Jason Webb - Alice's husband. He was convicted of her murder and has spent the last few years in prison. Philip Cumbus (The Spanish Princess) plays Richard Mazar - Jason's solicitor. Nathan Wright (Doctors) plays Steve Gantry - Alice was having an affair with him. Zita Sattar (Casualty, The Worst Witch) plays DCI Jilly Bashir. Mollie Winnard (Happy Valley, All Creatures Great and Small) plays DI Claire Ferris. Adam Rayner (Superman and Lois, Tyrant) plays Gary Booth - a hitman who goes on the run in episode 1. Evie McGuire (Casualty) plays Kerry Booth - Gary's daughter. She's in rehab. Jason Done (Waterloo Road, Where the Heart Is) plays Sgt Robert Andrews - a custody sergeant. Jane Slavin (Coronation Street, Always and Everyone) plays Lois Hill - Alice's mum. Tony Gardner (My Parents Are Aliens, Last Tango in Halifax, Fresh Meat) plays Ron Hill - Alice's dad. Oliver Nicholas (London Kills) plays Adam Hill - Alice's brother Nancy Farino (Anatomy of a Scandal) plays Saskia Hill - Alice's sister. Laura Pitt-Pulford (Emmerdale) plays Suzie Clemence - the former partner of a man killed by Gary. Levi Brown (This Town, Girl Taken) plays PC Nesbit. Lesley Moloney (The Inside Man) plays Home Secretary. Benjamin Lok (This England) plays Feng - he runs an illegal gambling operation. Episodes 3 and 4 - Creekwood <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/541204-67e3c6c.jpg" width="4242" height="2828" alt="A woman sits at a desk in a modern indoor space with a brick wall behind her. She wears a brown blazer and has her hair pulled back, holding a pen over an open notebook. Her elbow rests on the desk and her hand touches her chin as she looks off to the side, appearing thoughtful. A red chair and blurred foreground objects frame the scene." title="Silent Witness S29" /> Alexander Joseph (Odd Squad) plays young Tommo - the young boy who's institutionalised at the start. David Webber (Hard Truths) plays adult Tommo - he spends his time volunteering at the food bank. Will Close (Dalgliesh) plays young Dr Dankford - he performed a lobotomy on Tommo when he was a boy. Lydia Wilson (Flack, Ripper Street) plays DI Ashley Moss. Joe Barber (Shardlake, Coma) plays Ryan - he's caught running from the crime scene at the start. Ryan is homeless and bipolar. Yasmin Davies (Maryland) plays Erin - Ryan's friend. She becomes increasingly concerned about his mental health. Cat Simmons (The Bill, The Holiday) plays Adele - she's pregnant. Adele was best friends with Ashley growing up, but they no longer have a relationship. Mark Stobbart (55 Degrees North, The Hunt for Raoul Moat) plays Danny - Adele's partner. They are currently squatting, but Danny is trying to find a place for them to live. Rachel Atkins (The Archers) plays Barbara - a friend of Arthur, the old man who is found dead. Nichola Burley (Protection, The Gold) plays Lydia - Arthur's daughter. Lorna Nickson-Brown (The Jetty) plays Rose - Danny's mum. Chris Gordon (Hollyoaks, The Crown) plays Vincent - he runs a food bank. Rasmus Hardiker (Krypton) as an estate agent. Seisha Butler plays a chemist. Joseph Long (Ashes to Ashes) plays Gino - Danny's boss at the restaurant. Megan Cusack (Call the Midwife) pkays Niamh - she stumbled across Arthur's body while looking for scrap metal. Alan Williams (Father Brown, The Capture) plays Terrence - Danny's dad. Episodes 5 and 6 - The Enemy Within <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/Silent-Witness-BBC-1888107.jpg" width="4242" height="2828" alt="A woman with dark shoulder-length hair sits in an orange armchair against a brick wall background. She appears distressed and vulnerable, looking slightly downward with a sad expression. There is a rectangular medical dressing on her right cheek and her right hand is wrapped in a white bandage. She is wearing a loose, light grey sweatshirt and matching sweatpants, with her arms folded protectively across her body. The setting has warm lighting and an industrial-style interior with exposed brick." title="Silent Witness S29" /> George Harris (he's a stunt performer by trade) plays Alex Nelson - he's found dead, with stab wounds. Phaldut Sharma (EastEnders, Unforgotten) as Hamza Ahmed - he's arrested on suspicion of Alex's murder. Nikolaos Brahimllari (Gangs of London) plays Zolly - he strikes up a conversation with Jack at the gym and introduces him to his friends, who say they’ve formed a group centred on patriotism. George Somner (Sex Education) plays Gary and Tom McCall (Doctors) plays Steve - part of the group alongside Zolly. Cameron Jack (Emmerdale) plays Billy Krupka - a detective sergeant who is also part of the group. Selin Hizli (Grantchester, Am I Being Unreasonable?) plays DI Kayla Baran. Gerard Kearns (Shameless) plays DC Jonno Magath. Jonas Khan (Hollyoaks) plays Destan Baran - DI Baran's partner. Natalie Cutler as the estate agent Bhasker Patel (Emmerdale) plays Imran - he runs a a Pakistani restaurant that was the target of an arson attack. Rosanna Adams (Lockerbie) plays Thermis - a friend of Alex Nelson's. Jake Hagan plays Sparky - a video in which he's inciting racial violence is circulating online. Robert Rhodes (28 years Later: The Bone Temple) plays Ross Woolneigh - he's arrested by the police. Rachel Adedeji (Hollyoaks) play Lucinda Conway - she helps Kit track down a social media post. Narinder Uppal playa Sveta - Nikki and Jack's neighbour. Silent Witness seasons 1-28 are available to stream now on BBC iPlayer. Add Silent Witness to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Industry star David Jonsson reveals why it was important his new prison drama didn’t feel "exotic"
Jonsson stars opposite Tom Blyth in new drama Wasteman, out this week in UK cinemas.
Since breaking out with his role as Gus in the first two seasons of Industry, David Jonsson has emerged as one of the UK's finest young actors – impressing in a diverse range of films including Rye Lane, Alien: Romulus and The Long Walk. Now, for his latest role, last year's BAFTA Rising Star Award winner is starring alongside another up-and-coming British actor – People We Meet on Vacation's Tom Blyth – for gritty prison drama Wasteman, the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Cal McMau. The film is inspired in part by real footage that was shot inside prisons on contraband mobile phones, and speaking to Radio Times at last year's London Film Festival, Jonsson explained why it was important the film captured the harsh realities of prison life as opposed to the sanitised or glamorised depiction that can sometimes be seen in Hollywood films. "I think we knew from the offset that we weren't going to make anything that felt exotic or glorifying violence," he said in an exclusive interview. "Like, those films exist and some of them are cool, but that's not what we were doing here." He explained that the production had worked with a "wonderful charity" called Switchback, whose goal is to help bring former prisoners back into society and readjust them to a more normal way of life. "They gave us so much," he explained. "[And] 50% of them was like our cast – they were all in in it. And they helped us, not just sculpt the world, but also sculpt our characters. Having that as your baseline, just meant that we were able to elevate this into a thrilling place from that kernel of truth, that kernel of society. "Because prison affects all of us. Like, we pay our taxes, you're contributing to it, and it's a system that does need a bit of reform." View Green Video on the source website Wasteman is a film that had been a long time in the works, and counts as something of a passion project for Jonsson. He had first auditioned for the role as far back ago as 2017 – well before his big acting break – and considered it something of a "miracle" that it ended up being made at all. "Making films is really hard," he explained. "When I auditioned for this, I'd just left school, and I just wanted to do theatre, because that was something that I know and love. [But] I got this one script through that just meant so much to me. It felt like people that I'd come in contact with, growing up in East London, it just felt like people that I knew." He remembered thinking he'd "nailed" his audition, but when months passed and he never heard back, he assumed that he must not have done enough to secure the role. The reality, though, was that the film "just fell apart" due to funding problems. And so when he found the script again, Jonsson was able to use his newfound cachet to get it made as not just an actor but also a producer – something which also allowed him to "sculpt" his character in a way "that felt really current and real to me." He added: "I couldn't do it then... it was meant to happen now, And I couldn't imagine acting with anyone opposite of me than Tom, it was exactly the way it was meant to be." Wasteman is released in UK cinemas on Friday 20 February 2026. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Marty Supreme true story: How accurate is the ping-pong drama?
Timothée Chalamet's new sort-of-biopic has arrived in UK cinemas, but who was the real Marty Supreme?
Marty Supreme has caused quite a splash since opening in cinemas at the tail end of 2025. Josh Safdie's freneticallypaced ping-pong drama has become its distributor A24's highest-grossing film ever, while also boasting the finest acting of Timothée Chalamet's career – at least if you believe the star himself. And while Chalamet's grandstanding may have raised some eyebrows, few would argue against the fact that he turns in a pretty stellar performance. In fact, at the time of writing, he's runaway favourite to add a best actor Oscar to his steadily growing list of accolades that already includes a Golden Globe and Critics Choice award. In the film, Chalamet plays Marty Supreme, a character whose arrogant attitude he admits to have channeled during the press tour. "This is in the spirit of Marty," he told Indiewire. "And I feel like this is ultimately an original film at a time when original movies aren’t really put out." He continued: "It’s a movie about the pursuit of a dream. I’m leaving it on the field. Whether it’s the merch or the Zoom or the media appearances, I’m trying to get this out in the biggest way possible. In the spirit of Marty Mauser." In the movie, which is out still showing in some cinemas, Marty is a New York City shoe salesman who is driven by a massive ambition to become the greatest table tennis player in the world, and he soon ends up going to extreme lengths to rise to the top. But how does the figure we see in the film compare to the real-life champion ping-pong player Marty Reisman, upon whom the movie is based? Read on for everything you need to know about the true story behind Marty Supreme. Is Marty Supreme based on a true story? Yes – but only loosely. Safdie used the life of real table tennis player Marty Reisman as a jumping off point for the script, but never intended the film to be a wholly accurate account of his life. Marty Supreme true story: How accurate is the film? View Green Video on the source website As mentioned above, the film follows a character named Marty Mauser, who is loosely based on the real-life champion ping-pong player Marty Reisman – but it is not telling a one-to-one adaptation of his life or career. Instead, as reported by Deadline, Marty Supreme is "a fictionalised original, rather than a biopic". In other words, this is clearly a dramatised account of Reisman's career. Interestingly, there is a 2014 documentary about the real Reisman’s life titled Fact or Fiction: The Life and Times of a Ping-Pong Hustler, whose director Leo Leigh recently explained in an interview with The Smithsonian that Marty Supreme "has its own engine." He added that "the broad strokes are there, but it has its own agenda and thing going on" while also explaining that Josh Safdie had contacted him to ask some questions about Leigh's own time with Reisman while he was making his documentary. So while certain aspects of the film do somewhat resemble real events – for example, his match with Koto Endo in London is something of a mirror of his game against Hiroji Satoh at the 1952 World Table Tennis Championships in India – other things are pure invention, such as his relationship with retired actress Kay Stone (Gwyneth Paltrow). Fascinatingly, one of the most incredible stories featured in the film – the tale told by Holocaust survivor and Marty's fellow table tennis player Bela Kletzki (Géza Röhrig) – is based on the true story of a man named Alojzy Ehrlich. "I learned more about the Holocaust in that little story than from some movies that are only about the Holocaust," Safdie explained in an interview with The Guardian. Who was the real Marty Supreme? The real Marty Supreme (or, rather, the real Marty Mauser) was actually called Marty Reisman. Reisman was born in 1930 and died at 82 in 2012. He was a champion table tennis player whose professional career spanned over 50 years. His career began at the age of just 12, and rumours quickly began to spread about his incredible talent – with comedian Jonathan Katz even once recalling that Reisman once beat him while using the flat end of a chess piece rather than a bat. Throughout his career, Reisman won five bronze medals at the World Table Tennis Championships – a combination of both singles and doubles medals – while he won a total 22 major table tennis titles including two US Opens and a British Open. He remained active in the sport long into his life, and was serving as president of Table Tennis Nation at the time of his death. To put his longevity into perspective: on the film's release date, Timothée Chalamet will be 29 - only half the number of years between Reisman's first and final major table tennis awards, in 1946 and 2002 respectively. Reisman published a memoir in 1974 titled The Money Player, The Confessions of America's Greatest Table Tennis Player and Hustler. And although it's nearly impossible to track down a copy today, it's possible that this served as an inspiration for Marty Supreme. Marty Supreme is in cinemas now. If you're looking for something to watch tonight, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide or visit our Film hub for all the latest news. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders icon teases "big" storylines for Kat and Alfie Moon – and reveals Celebrity Traitors proposal
The actor spoke exclusively to Radio Times about his idea of combining EastEnders and The Traitors.
Shane Richie has teased some "big" storylines that are on the way for his character Alfie Moon and Kat Slater on EastEnders – and claims his mind has been blown by some of the events that are coming up soon in the soap. The Albert Square icon made the comments while speaking exclusively to Radio Times at a Gala Performance of Cabaret this week, while he also praised the work of the soap's executive producer Ben Wadley. "We've got some big storylines coming up on EastEnders with Kat and Alfie which I'm really excited about," he said. "And Ben our exec producer, he's... wow! He's really flying the flag for the show." Richie continued: "So there's some big stories coming up throughout the whole show which is just blowing my mind every time I read the scripts. I'm very excited to see that." Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. Meanwhile, the star was also asked if he'd consider signing up to a future series of The Celebrity Traitors – and revealed he's actually suggested referencing the popular reality show during an EastEnders episode. "Oh, I would love it. I would love to do Traitors," he said. "It's so funny because I keep talking to our exec producer about.... we should do it as 'Alfie Traitors in the Queen Vic.' "You know what I mean? Just as something that Alfie puts on in the pub. So that'd be good fun." We've no doubt that any EastEnders version of The Traitors would include just as much drama and double-crossing as the real thing. So sounds like a great fit! EastEnders spoilers next week: Shock arrest made after Anthony Trueman's funeral, as Max Branning professes his feelings View Green Video on the source website Read more: 5 EastEnders spoilers next week: Shock arrest made after Anthony Trueman's funeral, as Max Branning professes his feelings EastEnders' Kat Moon and Vicki Fowler make risky move to secure Zoe's freedom in BBC iPlayer release EastEnders reveals Mark Fowler Jr's secret and surprise connection to Walford local in BBC iPlayer release EastEnders airs dark Ravi Gulati scenes amid revenge story in early BBC iPlayer release Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers.Easten Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Ian McKellen questions Hamnet's "improbable" plot – but predicts Oscars success
The legendary thespian has admitted that he doesn't "quite get" Chloe Zhao's acclaimed film.
There are few actors working today who are more well-versed in the world of Shakespeare than Sir Ian McKellen – who has played a huge range of the Bard's most iconic characters on stage over the years. But the Lord of the Rings icon has admitted he was not too impressed by Chloé Zhao's awards-contending film Hamnet, which imagines events surrounding the death of the playwright's son and suggests that the tragedy could have inspired Shakespeare to pen Hamlet. The film has won rave reviews from critics, with Jessie Buckley's incredible turn as Shakespeare's wife Agnes [more commonly referred to as Anne] being singled out for particular praise. But McKellen wasn't quite so convinced by the film. "I don’t quite get it," he said in an interview with The Sunday Times. "I’m not very interested in trying to work out where Shakespeare’s imagination came from, but it certainly didn’t just come from family life.” And although McKellen admitted the film was likely to pick up an Oscar or two when the ceremony arrives next month, he went on to describe aspects of the plot as "improbable" and compared it to 1999 best picture winner Shakespeare in Love, which he said "had odd views as to how plays get put on." He continued: "Shakespeare’s perhaps the most famous person who ever lived, so of course there is some interest in what he looked like, what his relationship with his family was. "And we can’t know, but the idea Anne Hathaway has never seen a play before? It’s improbable, considering what her husband did for a living. And she doesn’t seem to know what a play is! I think there are a few doubts of probability." View Green Video on the source website Of course, it's worth noting that Hamnet is intended as a work of historical fiction rather than a completely truthful account of Shakespeare's family life, something which writer Maggie O'Farrell makes clear in the afterword of her source novel. "This is a work of fiction, inspired by the short life of a boy who died in Stratford, Warwickshire, in the summer of 1596," she wrote. Hamnet is up for eight Oscars at the upcoming awards, with star Jessie Buckley considered the runaway favourite to win best actress. However, it faces stiff competition from the likes of Sinners and One Battle After Another in the other categories, including the all-important best picture. We awarded the film the full five stars in our own Radio Times review, calling it a "masterly study of loss" and hailing Buckley's "superb" lead performance. Hamnet is now showing in UK cinemas. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Jason Statham lands next film role – starring as Jason Statham
The action star will reportedly play himself in the amusingly titled Jason Statham Stole My Bike from The Fall Guy director David Leitch.
Throughout his film career, it's fair to say that Jason Statham has mastered the art of playing a very particular type of character: bruising, intense, often rather taciturn action heroes who use their impressive physical abilities to get the better of their many enemies. It's a role he's played in everything from The Transporter to – most recently – Shelter, with almost every role he's taken on in recent years fitting more or less into the same violent, stoic archetype. It's the kind of filmography that might lead some fans to accuse him of "always playing the same character" – and it looks like he's now taken that pattern to its logical extreme. That's right: for his next role, Statham is due to star as none other than… Jason Statham. According to Deadline, the action star is set to play himself in a big-budget action-comedy from Bullet Train and The Fall Guy director David Leitch. The film – which is amusingly titled Jason Statham Stole My Bike – is penned by Alison Flierl (BoJack Horseman) and will reportedly have a budget of $80 million. While little has been given away about the precise plot at this stage, it seems safe to assume we can expect a fairly tongue-in-cheek movie, with Statham likely to be playing up to his aforementioned on-screen persona. Meanwhile, Deadline also reports that the film will include a number of major action set pieces, which is perhaps no surprise given both Statham's involvement and Leitch's extensive background when it comes to stunt work. View Green Video on the source website Of course, Statham will be far from the first big-name actor to play himself in a meta movie, with notable examples including John Malkovich in Being John Malkovich and Nicolas Cage in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. It certainly sounds like a fun proposition, and we'll be on the lookout for any further updates. Statham's recent release Shelter arrived in cinemas at the end of January, and speaking exclusively to Radio Times about the film, the star revealed that he'd been drawn to the project due to its "emotional core". "I'm always looking for something that catches my instinct for... I kind of look for movies that I'd like to go and see myself," he said. "And this kind of film is something that I have a personal taste for." Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Traitors winner Stephen Libby reveals two TV shows he'd love to be part of: "Don't come for me!"
The Scot has his mind set on a move into fashion presenting.
During his time on The Traitors, Stephen Libby's stylish selection of outfits attracted almost as much attention as his gameplay – so it's no surprise that the season 4 winner is pursuing the possibility of a new career in the world of fashion presenting. Stephen recently made his debut hosting a fashion segment on This Morning, and speaking exclusively to Radio Times at a Gala Performance of Cabaret this week, he opened up on the "really, really fun" experience he'd had. In particular, he enjoyed sharing the studio with TV favourite Anneka Rice, explaining: "I grew up watching her, so to suddenly be standing there as part of the same show just felt surreal." With Stephen having revealed he's now quit his job in cybersecurity, it will be interesting to see what future presenting gigs might arise. And asked if there were any shows in particular he had his eye on, he mentioned classic style series The Clothes Show – which last aired in 2009 – adding that working on The Great British Sewing Bee would be “lovely." "I'm not coming for anyone’s job," he added. "Don’t come for me!" Stephen also seemed enthusiastic about the suggestion of bringing back competition show Styled to Rock – which aired for one season, hosted by Rihanna, back in 2013 – exclaiming it was a "good shout". So perhaps it's time for a revival? Previously speaking at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026, Stephen had explained that his hope was to dive "into something that I'm more passionate about" now that he's left his previous job behind. View Green Video on the source website "It's been very good to me over the years, which is great, but I'm taking a break from work at the moment, just going to put my feet up and see what happens," he said. "And then if, in the future, an opportunity presents itself to me that's more exciting than cybersecurity, I'll grab it with both hands." Speaking about the reaction to his fashion choices while on The Traitors, he added that he'd found the response "overwhelming" given that he'd just been wearing items from his "day-to-day wardrobe." He added: "I think what it's shown me is that the bar for men's fashion is quite low because, to me, that's just like my normal clothing. So I'm just really happy that I had a positive response." The Traitors season 1-4 are available to watch on BBC iPlayer now. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Countryfile caught in channel shake-up tomorrow as Winter Olympics impacts usual TV schedules
The long-running series is moving to BBC Two this week.
With Winter Olympics coverage continuing to dominate the TV schedules this weekend, Countryfile is set to air its weekly episode on a different channel than usual tomorrow (Sunday 15 February). The long-running nature series will still air in its regular 6pm slot but will be moving to BBC Two, rather than broadcasting on its usual home of BBC One. The rest of the previously billed schedule will remain unchanged, with Winter Olympics coverage moving to BBC Two at 7pm and MasterChef: The Professionals airing from that time on BBC One. This week's episode of Countryfile will see hosts Datshiane Navanayagam and Hamza Yassin travel to Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire, 30 years after the area was hit by the infamous MV Sea Empress oil spill in 1996. According to the official synopsis, they will "speak to those who led the emergency response and find out how the wildlife and environment have recovered from the disaster." Meanwhile, there will be plenty of Olympic action to enjoy over the course of the weekend, with several medals up for grabs as Team GB look to add to the one gold won by Matt Weston in the skeleton. Clare Balding will be fronting the Sunday evening coverage from Milan and Cortina, with curling and figure skating among the sports viewers can expect to find on the schedule. Visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Night Manager star features in first look teaser for new horror series from Stranger Things creators
Camila Morrone stars in upcoming 8-parter Something Very Bad is Going to Happen.
Netflix has released the first teaser trailer for upcoming wedding-set horror series Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, which is led by The Night Manager star Camila Morrone. The series comes executive produced by Stranger Things pair Matt and Ross Duffer, and was created by Haley Z Boston, who previously worked on another Netflix horror series, 2021's Brand New Cherry Flavor. Morrone – who is also known for her role in Daisy Jones & The Six – plays Rachel, a woman who is due to get married in five days and travels with her fiancé, Nicky (Adam DiMarco), to his family's secluded vacation home located in a snowy forest. In the trailer, which you can see below, we get a pretty good indicator of the show's eerie atmosphere. The footage opens with Rachel – kitted out in full wedding garb – walking slowly down the aisle until someone mutters, "I'm sorry", a refrain we hear several more times before the end of the teaser. In keeping with the show's title, the whole clip has a very ominous feel; at one point, we see Rachel running away from someone in the snowy forest. We also get a glimpse of a Wicker Man-style figure being burned and a wedding cake bearing the slogan: "I'm sorry I forgot you were going to kill me." Check it out in full below, ahead of the show's streaming debut on March 26. View oEmbed on the source website Netflix's official synopsis for the eight-part limited series compares it to horror classics Carrie and Rosemary's Baby, and describes it as "horror’s take on a woman becoming a wife". It continues: "Prone to superstition and paranoia, Rachel can't shake the relentless feeling that something bad is going to happen. Her foreboding doubts, coupled with a series of eerie coincidences and dreadful surprises, force her to ask the question: What makes two people soulmates? "And worse — what could be scarier than lifelong commitment to the wrong person?" Alongside Morrone and DiMarco, the cast for the series also includes Jeff Wilbusch (Keep Breathing), Karla Crome (Misfits), Gus Birney (Shining Vale), Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight), Ted Levine (The Silence of the Lambs) and Sawyer Fraser (The Baby-Sitters Club). Something Very Bad is Going to Happen is released on Netflix on Thursday 26 March. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media. Add Something Very Bad is Going to Happen to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Baby Reindeer favourite Jessica Gunning to play music icon Mama Cass Elliot in new biopic
The Mamas & the Papas legend is the latest big name in music to have her story told on the big screen.
The recent music biopic boom appears to be going nowhere any time fast – and Cass Elliot of the Mamas & the Papas is the latest big name star to be confirmed as the subject for an upcoming film. Baby Reindeer star Jessica Gunning has been cast to play the singer – commonly known as Mama Cass – with the film being adapted from her son Owen Elliot-Kugell’s memoir by screenwriter Emma Forrest. No director is currently attached. The project will reportedly be focusing on Elliot's "life, legacy and music" but will not be serving as a biopic of her '60s folk rock act the Mamas & the Papas, famous for hits including their iconic recording of California Dreamin' and for being a major part of the counter-cultural movement of that decade. Although it was her work with the band that was most famous, Elliot also embarked on a solo career afterwards, releasing five albums and scoring hits with Make Your Own Kind of Music and Dream a Little Dream of Me. She passed away at the age of just 32 in 1968 after suffering a heart attack and was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. The film – which is being titled My Mama Cass – will also apparently detail Elliot-Kugell’s attempts to dispel a longstanding rumour that his mother's death had come after she choked on a ham sandwich. Interestingly, the film is being produced by Veritas Entertainment, one of the companies behind Oscar-nominated Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown – which of course covered a similar era in American folk music. Cass Elliott follows a number of musical icons including Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Presley and Whitney Houston in having her story told on the big screen in recent years – while Michael Jackson film Michael and Sam Mendes's ambitious Beatles project are among the other examples in the pipeline. Gunning is best known for her breakout, award-winning turn as Martha in 2024 Netflix hit Baby Reindeer, while she's also appeared in Back and The Outlaws and has roles in upcoming films The Christophers and The Magic Faraway Tree. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
14 Valentine's films that won't make you want to vomit
After a romantic movie that completely sidesteps cheesiness? We've got you covered...
Agreeing on a decent film to watch can be a battle at the best of times, but on Valentine's Day it's often especially fraught. Indeed, navigating the never-ending stream of saccharine big screen offerings is no easy task, with many of the options available leaning a little too far into embarrassing cheesiness. But fortunately, there are loads of romantic movies that manage to sidestep schmaltz more or less completely – providing laughs and charm without making you want to thrown up your expensive dinner. After something that ticks those boxes, but not sure where to begin? We've outlined 14 varies options below. 1. What If Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) works his magic in this alternative rom-com about a guy called Wallace who falls head over heels for Chantry (Zoe Kazan). Only problem is she's already got a boyfriend (Rafe Spall), so Wallace has a hard time working his way out of the friend zone. It's quirky, it's witty and Adam Driver keeps the witticisms coming thick and fast. You won't even have time to feel nauseous. RT review Daniel Radcliffe headlines a cute, quintessentially indie romantic comedy that thinks it's a bit cleverer than it actually is. It's quite the opposite for the character he plays, however - a medical school dropout who's lost his faith in love after a break-up. So he takes solace in his friendship with a cartoon animator, played with familiar kookiness by Ruby Sparks star Zoe Kazan (her affectations enhanced by doodles that spring to life), but it's painfully clear that Radcliffe wants more. His main obstacle is Rafe Spall as Kazan's long-time boyfriend, who is instrumental in the film's funniest moments. Mostly, though, director Michael Dowse (Goon) relies on the witty banter between his leads to keep the formulaic action zipping along. Radcliffe isn't quite as comfortable as his co-star with this screwball approach and shrewdly tries a few Hugh Grant-style tics, making a virtue of his very British awkwardness. Ironically, the chemistry is better when the two leads are not flirting with each other. – Stella Papamichael Where to watch: Available to rent/buy 2. (500) Days of Summer View Green Video on the source website What better way to spend Valentine's than watching a movie that's all about a break-up, eh? Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon Levitt star in this beloved tale of greeting card writer and hopeless romantic Tom, who's caught totally off-guard when his girlfriend suddenly dumps him. He spends a little over an hour figuring out why their relationship went sour, while wondering if there's more to life than romance. RT review The feature-film debut of music video director Marc Webb is a flouncy romantic comedy starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt (best known for 1990s sci-fi sitcom Third Rock from the Sun) as Tom, a wannabe architect working as a greetings card writer, who falls in and out of love with Summer (Zooey Deschanel), a beautiful if mercurial woman who starts work as his boss's secretary. The film jumps backwards and forwards in time throughout our hero's 500-day infatuation with Summer, who unfortunately for Tom firmly refuses to believe in love. Gordon-Levitt's soft-hearted, love-struck performance is heartbreaking to watch - although it is played mostly for comedy - and really demonstrates how confused a man in love can get. However, Webb's offbeat direction is occasionally disjointed, giving the appearance of a movie made up of a string of short films spliced together. The idea of analysing a relationship at different points in time is certainly fresh and interesting, but the director's inability to control the pace means the end result is a bit twee. – Karen Krizanovich Where to watch: Disney+ 3. Nick and Norah's Infinite Play List Based on the novel by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, this quirky little film follows teenagers Nick (Michael Cera) and Norah (Kat Dennings) who cross paths when she asks if he'll pretend to be her boyfriend for five minutes. Nick obliges, naturally, and the pair bond as they attempt to find their favourite band's secret show and search for Norah's drunken best friend. There's moonlight, music and a little bit of magic, but not enough to make you bring your dinner back up. RT review During an eventful night in the Big Apple, bassist Nick (Michael Cera), the only heterosexual member of a gay boy band, bumps into Nora (Kat Dennings), a quirky high-school teen who's babysitting her outrageously drunk friend Caroline (Ari Graynor). All three are desperate to discover the venue for a secret gig by underground band Where's Fluffy but they're dragged off-course by a series of increasingly frantic mishaps. Nick falls for Nora, Caroline passes out then goes AWOL and Nick's bitchy ex-girlfriend (Alexis Dziena) tries to ruin the romance. More indebted to After Hours than Superbad, this late-night tour of Manhattan aims to be a smarter alternative to the usual teen movie yet fails to find the magical charm it needs to work properly. Instead it coasts leisurely by on its nicely mismatched central couple, gay-friendly supporting characters and name-checking of bands like Vampire Weekend and Band of Horses. – Jamie Russell Where to watch: Available to buy from Sky Store 4. Easy A Emma Stone takes the lead in this clever little comedy that's got an ever-so-subtle romance running through it. The feisty redhead (for this film anyway) stars as Olive, a run-of-the-mill high school teenager who decides to spice up her life by telling a lie about losing her virginity. Little does she know it'll spread like wildfire. It's not too soppy, never floppy, and jam-packed with references to your favourite 80s teen movies. RT review Emma Stone demonstrated her star charisma with this teen movie, playing one of those girls who just fades into the background at high school. So when the fibs she tells about her (actually nonexistent) sexual exploits start doing the rounds, it's no surprise that Stone is flattered by the attention. But, of course, we know that those tall tales are only going to get her into deeper trouble. What unfolds is a deft, witty and sympathetic tale of adolescent confusions that bravely references both Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter and John Hughes teen pics of the 1980s - and gets away with it. There's also a stellar supporting cast that includes Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson as Stone's groovy parents, and Malcolm McDowell and Lisa Kudrow as members of the school staff, and they all make the most of writer Bert V Royal's gold-standard dialogue. True, the plot almost overreaches itself, but it's still enormously funny and has surprising cross-generational appeal. – Trevor Johnston Where to watch: Available to rent or buy 5. 10 Things I Hate about You View Green Video on the source website The brilliant ensemble teen comedy (starring Heath Ledger, Julia Styles, Joseph-Gordon Levitt and Larisa Oleynik) is a modern twist on Shakespeare's comedy The Taming of the Shrew. It sees Patrick Verona (Ledger) chase after Kat Stratford (Styles) who ain't at all easy to woo. "I know you can be overwhelmed and you can be underwhelmed, but can you ever be just whelmed?" We're still not sure but this film will definitely leave you over rather than underwhelmed. RT review Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew gets updated, Clueless-style, to high-school America in this engaging romantic comedy from debut director Gil Junger. Kat (Julia Stiles) is the sulky teenager who doesn't like anybody. This causes a problem for her hormonally charged younger sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik), who has been told by their dad that she can't date until Kat does. Heath Ledger made his Hollywood breakthrough as unfortunate lad picked to introduce Kat to the dating scene, while the rest of the cast is peppered with equally good-looking youngsters, including Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Premium Rush) as Bianca's sweet but nerdy admirer. Smartly paced, fun and funny, this is just as enjoyable for adults as it is for its intended teenage market. – Joanna Berry Where to watch: Disney+ 6. High Fidelity You can always rely on John Cusack to balance romance with marvellous misery. High Fidelity follows his reclusive record shop owner Rob as he recounts the tales of his last five break-ups – including the one he's in the middle of. Funny and refreshing, Stephen Frears' little gem will make the down-and-out man in your life feel like he's a hunk after all. RT review Don't fret about the fact that Stephen Frears has transposed Nick Hornby's novel from north London to downtown Chicago. This slickly scripted, knowingly played and cameo-strewn comedy stands on its merits. As the owner of a failing vinyl emporium, John Cusack combines reluctant self-awareness with genuine delusion as he attempts to reconcile the loss of girlfriend Iben Hjejle to lusty neighbour Tim Robbins by dating singer Lisa Bonet. However, it's when directly addressing the viewer or compulsively compiling "top five" lists with co-workers Jack Black and Todd Louiso that Cusack, and the picture, really come alive. – David Parkinson Where to watch: Disney+ 7. Forgetting Sarah Marshall Yet another brutal break-ups that proved surprisingly heart-warning. Forgetting Sarah Marshall sees Jason Segel's Peter getting the push from long-term TV star girlfriend Sarah, before jetting off to Hawaii to try and get over it. He meets a rather nice receptionist (Mila Kunis) on the island but the arrival of his ex and her new squeeze (Russell Brand) makes things a little more complicated. It's rude, it's crude, it's laugh out loud funny, and it's not even close to dripping in sickly sweet vom-com honey. RT review The team responsible for The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up is behind this sometimes riotous anti-romantic comedy. After musician Peter (Jason Segel) is dumped by his TV-star girlfriend Sarah (Kristen Bell), he decides to take a trip to Hawaii to get over her. But when Peter arrives, he discovers that Sarah and her new British rock star boyfriend (Russell Brand) are not only staying at the same resort, but in the very same hotel. All three leads are likeable and well cast, while the Hawaiian scenery looks great. But like producer Judd Apatow's previous films, it is somewhat overlong, with several scenes apparently included because they could be, not because they should be. As compensation, it is often laugh-out-loud funny, with a broad humour that delivers belly laughs by the barrel-load. – Dave Aldridge Where to watch: Available to rent or buy 8. When Harry Met Sally View Green Video on the source website Can men and women ever just be friends? That's the question rom-com queen Meg Ryan and the brilliant Billy Crystal try to answer in this chick flick classic. Nora Ephron's marvellous movie follows the pair as they attempt to keep things platonic across the decades. RT review Essentially concerned with the several meetings and partings of two college graduates over a decade or so, as life and love take their toll, this romantic comedy argues the question of whether men and women can ever have friendship without sex. The teaming of Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal is perfect, while supporting stars Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby are outstanding and add a welcome suggestion of edge. With its glitzy New York locations and beguiling soundtrack of popular standards, the movie offers a glamorised excursion into Woody Allen territory, and is a triumph of expert and irresistible escapist entertainment. The fake-orgasm-in-a-deli set piece propelled Ryan into stratospheric stardom, but there are numerous other pleasures to be found in Nora Ephron's Oscar-nominated screenplay and Rob Reiner's astute direction. – Robyn Karney Where to watch: MGM+ 9. The Princess Bride If you haven't watched this 80s cult classic already you've missed out. Adapted from the book of the same name, The Princess Bride is the superbly satirical tale of farm boy Westley and his err, Princess Bride Buttercup, as they wind up in all sorts of ridiculous situations. Mandy Patinkin's brilliant Inigo Montoya makes every single soppy kiss worth it. RT review Rob Reiner was always careful to avoid typecasting as a director, so following the warm nostalgia of Stand by Me he opted for this curious but ultimately charming fable. The film opens with Peter Falk reading the story to grandson Fred Savage (from TV's The Wonder Years), and this ironic distancing continues throughout the movie. Although the requisite monsters, giants and swordfights are present and correct for the children, Reiner also ensures there are plenty of quiet chuckles for adults. That's largely thanks to the efforts of an eclectic cast, which includes Mandy Patinkin, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, This Is Spinal Tap's Christopher Guest, Mel Smith and Peter Cook. An unexpected delight for all the family. – John Ferguson Where to watch: Tubi 10. Silver Linings Playbook OK, so it's technically a "dramedy" – dramatic romantic comedy – but it nabbed enough Oscars to warrant a watch. Strictly meets decent drama as Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence (in the role that made her hot property in Hollywood) play two troubled souls thrown together by their personal dilemmas and a dance competition. Not so much dirty as flirty dancing, it's a slick little flick that any girl or boy can enjoy. RT review This beguilingly offbeat love story was adapted by idiosyncratic director David O Russell (The Fighter, American Hustle) from the debut novel by Matthew Quick. Bradley Cooper gives a career-changing performance as Pat, a bipolar divorcé returning to his larger-than-life suburban Philadelphia family after a spell in a mental health clinic. After a chance meeting, he partners up with Jennifer Lawrence's fellow neurotic Tiffany (also keenly played) to train hard for a dance competition that promises to prove therapeutic for them both. An accumulative betting subplot involving real-life team the Philadelphia Eagles, driven by Pat's roguish dad (Robert De Niro, in a rare autumnal role of substance), stokes the dramatic trajectory towards the ballroom-dance-off, which is much more surprising than your standard Hollywood ending, despite certain conventions. This is a genuinely unusual, bittersweet romance that also boasts some terrific choreography. – Andrew Collins Where to watch: Available to rent or buy 11. Before Sunrise View Green Video on the source website Richard Linklater's entire Before trilogy – starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy – is always worth a watch in its entirety, but this opening instalment is the most purely romantic of the three. Hawke and Delpy are Ethan and Celine, an American man and Frenchwoman who meet on a train and decide to spend an evening together in Vienna, soon realising they seem to have a special connection. It's a delightful film with no shortage of standout moments. RT review When American slacker Ethan Hawke meets French student Julie Delpy on a train to Vienna, the romantic sparks fly as they spend one eventful night together in director Richard Linklater's exhilarating drama. Announcing his presence as a major talent after grabbing attention with Dazed and Confused, Linklater's understated use of gorgeous Viennese backgrounds, coupled with a smart, funny and touching script, make this ultra-modern romance hip yet timeless. With engaging Hawke and free-spirited Delpy delivering confident chemistry, this contemporary brief encounter is a real winner. – Alan Jones Where to watch: Available to rent or buy 12. Bringing Up Baby No list of romantic comedies would be complete without dipping into classic Hollywood, and specifically the large canon of screwball comedies. There are loads of gems from to choose from – such as The Philadelphia Story and It Happened One Night – but for pure chaotic fun, there's no looking past Howard Hawks superb 1938 gem. Legendary stars Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant couldn't be more perfectly matched in a film that includes everything from runaway leopards to toppling dinosaur skeletons – this is pure unfiltered joy from the first minute to the very last. RT Review Despite flopping on release, this deft comedy has rightly become one of the definitive examples of the screwball genre. Cary Grant plays nicely against type as a mild-mannered scientist, while an energetic Katharine Hepburn excels as the scatty heiress whose new pet leopard is the surprising catalyst for both riotous farce and the inevitable romance. Hepburn maintains an unusual layer of sweetness as she falls instantly in love with Grant – even while she sets about trying to sabotage her hapless paramour's marriage engagement. Howard Hawks directs with his usual zip, leading us effortlessly through every silly set piece. – Calum Baker Where to watch: BBC iPlayer 13. The Apartment Another oldie, this classic from Billy Wilder has a strong claim to be labelled the very best romcom Hollywood has ever produced. Starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine and Fred McMurray, it's a film that has lost none of its emotional resonance in the 65 years since release. RT Review This classic from Billy Wilder sees Jack Lemmon's put-upon, snuffling insurance clerk CC Baxter basically offer his apartment to his superiors so that they can indulge in extramarital trysts. That he does it in return for promotions that never come makes "Buddy Boy" Baxter a sad case indeed. But Wilder cleverly veils the plot's darker side and operates the movie as a light romantic comedy. He is helped immensely by Lemmon's skilled performance, which instantly earns our sympathy, and his character's redemption comes when Shirley MacLaine's elevator girl - mistress of unscrupulous boss Fred MacMurray - gets in a fix and he comes to her aid. From such potentially edgy material Wilder and co-writer IAL Diamond sculpt an unforgettable romance that won five Oscars, including best picture, direction and screenplay. – Andrew Collins Where to watch: MGM+ 14. The Worst Person in the World View Green Video on the source website The third entry in Joachim Trier's loose Oslo trilogy, this modern gem perhaps leans more towards romantic drama – with a certain melancholy running through it – but there are enough light and comedic moments for it to qualify here. Breakout star Renate Reinsve – now an Oscar nominee for Sentimental Value – is superb in a charming film that subverts some of the tropes of the genre and includes a handful of playfully realised set pieces. It's an instant classic. RT Review If you have ever felt that life is passing you by, then this wistful and warm film from Norwegian director Joachim Trier will hit you like a ton of bricks. Set in Oslo, the story is divided into 12 chapters that trace the 20s of a woman named Julie (the radiant Renate Reinsve), who is unsure of what to do with her life and with whom who to spend it. Julie makes the kind of mistakes that would usually cast her as the villain of the piece, but thanks to Reinsve imbuing her with irresistible charisma and relatability, she is far from what the film's sarcastic title suggests. Trier, who also co-wrote the script, directs with playful verve, from a kiss that would rival any romcom's to a dinner party with magic mushrooms on the menu. It is a film that dodges genre pigeonholes, with threads of romantic comedy and coming-of-age drama weaving into one, and a mournful final act that offers a further impactful gear-change. – Max Copeman Where to watch: Mubi Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.