What films are out in UK cinemas this week? Reviews from Lee Cronin's The Mummy to Glenrothan
Your weekly round-up of all the films currently showing in UK cinemas.
There's another extremely varied slate of new releases for film fans in the UK to choose from this weekend – with everything from gruesome horror to sentimental drama represented in this week's line-up. Perhaps the most high-profile new release is the somewhat clumsily titled Lee Cronin's The Mummy which you might have heard does NOT include Brendan Fraser. This is a far more gory take on the classic monster lore from the titular Irish director – and certainly not one for the faint-hearted. Meanwhile, one week after James McAvoy made his directorial debut with California Schemin', another Scottish actor has stepped behind the camera for the first time, with Brian Cox this time taking on directorial duties on drama Glenrothan. Elsewhere, Jude Law stars as Vladimir Putin in The Wizard of the Kremlin, Jennifer Lopez takes the lead in a musical version of Kiss of the Spider Woman, the always busy Josh O'Connor fronts quiet Western drama Rebuilding and German auteur Christian Petzold returns with his latest effort Miroirs No 3. You can find our reviews for all those films below, while you can also discover our lowdown on the other major movies released in UK cinemas in recent weeks, including hit sci-fi flick Project Hail Mary and much talked about dark comedy The Drama. 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? 17 - 23 April Lee Cronin's The Mummy View Green Video on the source website Despite some gruesome prosthetics and buckets of gore, Lee Cronin’s reimagining of The Mummy is a bit all over the place. After eight years missing, the daughter of journalist Charlie (Jack Reynor) and his wife Larissa (Laia Costa) unexpectedly returns home mute, traumatised and wrapped in bandages. When she begins to exhibit increasingly disturbing, seemingly supernatural behaviour, Charlie enlists help to uncover exactly what happened to her – with sinister results. Fresh off the back of reinventing another beloved horror franchise with Evil Dead Rise, Cronin nobly aims for a blend of The Exorcist and Bring Her Back, though is unable to reach the heights of either. While the film has flashes of terror, the heavy-handed, relentless jump scares leave you eye-rolling rather than eye-covering. Tonally, it is uneven, too, often attempting to mix humour with horror, but settling on neither, and the problem is further complicated by some shaky performances. It’s frustrating, because with a strong concept and some decent imagery, there is potential here. In the end, though, the film delivers nothing that hasn’t been done before, and done better. – Chezelle Bingham Glenrothan Brian Cox has earned a reputation as one of the most formidable actors of his generation, so you might expect his first film as director to contain a certain degree of dramatic heft. But Glenrothan – in which Cox stars alongside fellow Scot Alan Cumming – is a decidedly uncinematic affair; a stylistically bland drama that trades almost entirely in treacly sentimentality. Cumming plays Donal, a jazz bar proprietor in Chicago who hasn’t returned to his Scottish homeland or seen brother Sandy (Cox) in decades. When disaster strikes at his bar, he is convinced by his daughter (Alexandra Shipp) to finally make the voyage home; a trip which swiftly reopens old wounds. Cox has described the film as a "love letter" to Scotland, but nothing about the depiction of his homeland is textured or specific enough to feel like meaningful homage. Nor does the family feud, which is communicated through cloying flashbacks and stagey confrontation scenes, ring true. Combined with an overegged score and unconvincing dialogue, it adds up to a plodding drama where virtually every choice is the most basic one. – Patrick Cremona Read our interview with Brian Cox Kiss of the Spider Woman <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/04/Kiss-Of-The-Spider-Woman-Image-3-Only-In-Cinemas-April-17-1-670469f.jpg" width="3123" height="2081" alt="Jennifer Lopez as Ingrid Luna in Kiss Of The Spider Woman. She's pictured in a black dress, with a black bob of hair. She stands in front of a giant cobweb." title="Jennifer Lopez as Ingrid Luna in Kiss Of The Spider Woman" /> Anchored in the relationship that develops between two cellmates imprisoned under the Argentine dictatorship, this adaptation of the Kander and Ebb musical showcases some tremendous acting but is tonally uneven. In 1983, activist Valentín Arregui (Diego Luna) has been incarcerated for his political views, while his gay cellmate Luis Molina (Tonatiuh) has been jailed for "public indecency". Arregui's gruff approach to life is incompatible with that of the exuberant Molina, who wards off the jail’s horrors by retreating into a fantasy world with his screen idol Ingrid Luna (Jennifer Lopez). In these moments, the action is whisked to a film-within-a-film structure where Molina imagines himself as the assistant to Luna’s character, while casting Arregui as her love interest. These segments unfold as big, Technicolor musical numbers that allow Lopez and Tonatiuh to shine. While director Bill Condon (Dreamgirls) is adept at staging all-singing, all-dancing escapism, he proves less successful when it comes to nailing the more grim tone behind bars as the men’s relationship begins to shift. Despite its fine razzle-dazzle, the film ultimately suffers from a lack of heart in its more anchored moments. – Amber Wilkinson Read our full Kiss of the Spider Woman review The Wizard of the Kremlin The rise of Vladimir Putin forms the backbone of this engrossing ride through recent Russian politics. Guiding audiences through the murky post-Soviet world is Vadim Baranov (Paul Dano), the eponymous "wizard" of Russia’s centre of government. Framed via a conversation with a journalist (Jeffrey Wright), Baranov’s rise from hawker to TV producer to Kremlin power-player is never less than compelling, as director Olivier Assayas (Carlos) paints a fascinating picture of Mother Russia and its authoritarian new leader, Putin (Jude Law). Adapted by Assayas and Emmanuel Carrère, it’s based on Giuliano da Empoli’s 2022 novel, a mix of fiction and fact with Baranov inspired by the real-life Vladislav Surkov. A wig-wearing, waterskiing (and not entirely convincing) Law may be the star turn, but this is Dano’s film, and the Batman star anchors it superbly. Featuring Alicia Vikander as the elusive woman whose life intersects with Baranov’s, this is an energetic, vivacious look at the allure of power and those who took advantage of the chaos of Russia in the 1990s. – James Mottram Read our full Kiss of the Spider Woman review Miroirs No 3 Less is more in this elliptical yet elegantly crafted psychological drama from German writer/director Christian Petzold, which forms the third film in his "elemental" trilogy after Undine and Afire. On a country road one summer, depressed music student Laura (regular Petzold collaborator Paula Beer) miraculously survives unharmed the car crash that kills her boyfriend. Discovered by a local (Barbara Auer), the shell-shocked Laura asks to stay at the home of her rescuer, who herself is struggling to process a traumatic family loss. Drawing on elements of fairy tales and doppelganger stories, alongside visual markers of rural Americana, Mirrors No. 3 combines a dreamlike sensibility with carefully understated performances. Laura experiences a rebirth by taking pleasure in simple activities such as riding a bicycle, gardening, and painting a fence in the company of her kindly host. Throughout, there is an impressive use of diegetic music, from the Maurice Ravel title composition to the rousing Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons track The Night, as the characters hesitantly find a way beyond their psychological pain. – Tom Dawson Rebuilding Josh O’Connor delivers another brilliantly understated performance in this lovely, lowkey drama from writer-director Max Walker-Silverman (A Love Song). He stars as Dusty, a cowboy whose livelihood is threatened after wildfires ravage his ranch and he is left to take up residence at a temporary trailer camp with other victims of the blaze. At the same time, he attempts to bond with his adoring young daughter Callie Rose (Lily LaTorre), whose mother (Meaghan Fahy) he is now separated from. Walker-Silverman never reaches for melodrama, favouring a restrained and naturalistic approach that allows the characters and their relationships to feel impressively authentic and heartfelt – with the dynamic between Dusty and Callie Rose especially well judged. Meanwhile Alfonso Herrera Salcedo’s gorgeous cinematography and an Americana-tinged guitar score from Jake Xerxes Fussell and James Elkington give the piece a finely tuned Western sensibility. A quiet film that manages to retain a sense of hope and redemption at its heart while largely keeping platitudes at bay, it offers more compelling evidence that O’Connor is among the finest actors of his generation. – Patrick Cremona Best of the rest still showing in UK cinemas You, Me and Tuscany Halle Bailey (The Little Mermaid) and Regé-Jean Page (Netflix's Bridgerton) headline this sweet-but-silly Italian-set romcom. Bailey is Anna, a would-be chef who impulsively travels to Tuscany, cheekily bedding down in the empty villa belonging to the family of Lorenzo (Marco Calvani), an Italian expat she met back home. When his folks catch her, they mistakenly believe Anna and their prodigal son are engaged – a mix-up further complicated when she develops feelings for Lorenzo’s cousin Michael (Page). With lush locations, blissful Mediterranean weather and gorgeous-looking food – not to mention Page with his shirt off in one sprinkler scene – director Kay Coiro (Marry Me) tantalises the senses, if not the grey matter, with a story that even references its own spiritual predecessor, the Diane Lane-starring Under the Tuscan Sun (2003). The Italian stereotypes loom large, and there’s a saucy postcard humour to the script, but Bailey’s graceful presence and Page’s spiky lover carry the story through. A sun-kissed charmer, best seen with a Spritz in hand. – James Mottram Read our interview with Regé-Jean Page and Halle Bailey California Schemin' The directorial debut of actor James McAvoy, based on the book by Gavin Bain, is a raucous musical romp about two Scottish hip-hop artists who name themselves Silibil N' Brains. After they are laughed out of their first audition as the "rapping Proclaimers", the pair (played by Samuel Bottomley and Séamus McLean Ross) reinvent themselves as an LA duo, learning American accents from movies and TV. The flimsy lie doesn’t hold, but for a time they live the dream. This is frenetic fun packed with nostalgia – a euphoric rags-to-riches-to-rags movie that is no less energetic and enjoyable for the fact that it's a bit predictable. The ending isn't entirely satisfying, but it’s a good time with a big heart. Stay for the credits to see the real Silibil N' Brains, whom you won’t believe aren’t American. – Rosie Fletcher Read our interview with the real Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd Undertone Paranormal podcast presenter Evy (Nina Kiri) gets the shivers when her co-host shares an anonymous email of spooky audio files in this low-budget frightener that's woefully short on suspense. Piecing together the recordings of a couple singing nursery rhymes in their sleep, she and her colleague (an unseen Adam DiMarco) debate whether the files contain murderous messages when played backwards. This offers Evy a brief respite from dealing with issues closer to home, including an invalid mother, an unexpected pregnancy, and ongoing struggles with alcoholism. As plots go, it’s frustratingly thin, not helped by pedestrian camera work that rarely ventures from the almost expression-free face of its lead actor. Whereas box-office hits The Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield helped establish the "found footage" chiller as a valid subgenre, the "found audio" variation struggles to make much of an impression. Writer/director Ian Tuason’s lack of pace or incident suggests the story might have been more robust as a half-hour short, rather than stretched out to feature length. – Terry Staunton Read our full Undertone review The Drama At what point is a red flag impossible to ignore? That’s the principal question posed in this combustible film from writer/director Kristoffer Borgli (Dream Scenario) that takes the idea of pre-wedding jitters to wild extremes. Starring Robert Pattinson and Zendaya as Charlie and Emma, a Boston couple about to tie the knot, the story hinges on an early twist that comes when the pair ask each other about the worst thing they've ever done – and Emma drops a most unexpected bombshell. This leads to Charlie reconsidering all he knows about his fiancée, but the revelation also swerves the plot into tricky territory with subject matter that demands more sensitivity than Borgli's characteristic mischief-making allows. It's an audacious blend and subversion of both the romcom and marital drama templates, and both stars prove saving graces. Zendaya skilfully fashions a compelling enigma while Pattinson is genuinely charming as a beleaguered English fop whose life grows increasingly absurd. But by the end, this is far from satisfying; it's a film frustratingly engineered for discourse, not depth. – Max Copeman Read our full (spoiler) The Drama review Father Mother Sister Brother View Green Video on the source website A triptych of tales about parent/child relationships makes up the unassuming winner of the 2025 Venice film festival’s Golden Lion. It might just be the quietest film yet by writer/director Jim Jarmusch, who returns to the anthology-style format he’s previously pursued in Coffee and Cigarettes, Night on Earth and Mystery Train. The first story, infused with low-key melancholy, sees two grown-up siblings (Adam Driver, Mayim Bialik) visit their isolated father (Tom Waits) in rural America. The most memorable segment sees two sisters (Cate Blanchett, Vicky Krieps) call upon their ice-cold mother (Charlotte Rampling) in Dublin. Finally, in Paris, two non-identical twins (Indya Moore, Luka Sabbat) contend with their parents’ recent demise. If there’s a connecting thread, it’s Jarmusch’s subtle ideas about what we take, and how we evolve, from our parents. Performance-wise, long-time Jarmusch collaborator Waits is at his grizzled best, while Rampling’s prim matriarch is pitch-perfect. The cumulative effect will leave you in a thoughtful, if perhaps not enlivened, mood. – James Mottram The Stranger A white French national is arrested for fatally wounding a young local at an Algiers beach in this seductive, expertly realised take on Albert Camus’s 1942 existential classic. "I killed an Arab" notes Meursault (Benjamin Voisin) as he arrives in jail, before the film rewinds to events before the act. Meursault’s mother’s funeral, at which he shows little emotion, is followed by his meet-cute with the radiant Marie (Rebecca Marder). But it’s his encounter with the slimy Sintés (Pierre Lottin) that leads him down a darker path. Adapted by director François Ozon, the script makes subtle adjustments to Camus’s work without ever demystifying its more enigmatic elements. Naming the victim, for example, gives more definition than Camus ever managed. Shot in exquisite black and white, the sweltering feel, especially in the courtroom scenes, lends this a hothouse atmosphere that plays well on screen. Likewise, Voisin (star of Ozon’s 2020 film Summer of ’85) is wonderfully steely, his motivations tantalisingly out of reach. It adds up to a resonant study of historical French-Algerian tensions. – James Mottram The Super Mario Galaxy Movie View Green Video on the source website Nintendo’s video-game icons Mario and Luigi return for this follow-up to 2022’s CG-animated The Super Mario Bros Movie. In the colourful Mushroom Kingdom, sibling plumbers Mario (voiced by Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) meet Yoshi (Donald Glover), a green dinosaur-like figure with a rapacious appetite. Together, they must rescue Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson) – sister to the kingdom’s ruler, Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) – who has been abducted by their enemy’s son, Bowser Jr (Benny Safdie). Returning co-directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic keep the energy levels high, with scenes that feel like you’re playing Mario Kart or any one of the myriad platform-style Mario games. There are plenty of Easter eggs, too, including Glen Powell voicing Fox McCloud, the protagonist from Nintendo’s Star Fox series. Sadly, the humdrum story underwhelms, lacking in fresh elements, and Safdie aside, the vocal performances are as subdued as the script. Younger viewers, though, will delight in the trippy chaos. – James Mottram The Magic Faraway Tree Enid Blyton’s titular novels are adapted into this fantastical family film by director Ben Gregor. Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy play a pair of down-on-their-luck parents who, when their debts pile up, move with their three children to a ramshackle home in the countryside. The youngest child (Billie Gadsdon) comes across a magical tree that is home to a collection of eccentric but mostly affable oddballs. With their help, she is transported to an eclectic array of lands, and eventually persuades her more cynical siblings to join her on this adventure of discovery. Having previously co-scripted the screenplays for Paddington 2 and Wonka, Simon Farnaby has proven he has a deft hand for updating beloved children’s classics for modern audiences. This doesn’t have quite the same wit or spark, and occasionally strays from pleasantly endearing to mildly irritating. However, there’s more than enough whimsical appeal to charm younger audiences, and a parade of famous faces from the British comedy scene provide an abundance of amusing moments. One scene featuring Lenny Henry, Michael Palin and Simon Russell Beale as a three-headed "Know-All" is a comedic highlight. – Patrick Cremona They Will Kill You Golf clubs, hockey sticks, lacrosse... paddles? These are just some of the things that will kill you in "eat the rich" horror They Will Kill You. The film is a computer game-inspired beat ‘em up starring Zazie Beetz (Deadpool 2) as Asia, who escaped her abusive father ten years earlier, leaving her younger sister Maria (Myha'la) in his custody. Now, Asia's back with a vengeance. What starts as a tense home-invasion film becomes a funny and gory body-horror that stylistically echoes what might be John Wick: the Video Game. Based in a hotel called the Virgil, the film uses cuts and clipped shots to create the sensation of literally moving up different levels. It plays like a descent into hell, including an orgiastic "f*** room", leading to a final boss as outrageous as you could hope. Supporting cast Heather Graham, Tom Felton and Patricia Arquette are perfectly committed to the film's enjoyably ludicrous tone. Its rules don’t make sense, but the visuals are funny, weird and wonderful. – Rosie Fletcher Orwell: 2+2=5 View Green Video on the source website The later work of George Orwell provides the basis for this ambitious but not entirely surefooted documentary from director Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro). The focus is on the author's final years, as he pens dystopian classic Nineteen Eighty-Four on the Scottish isle of Jura before succumbing to tuberculosis in early 1950. With Orwell's letters and prose narrated by actor Damian Lewis, Peck illustrates his ideas with clips from TV and film adaptations (including Michael Radford's 1984 take on the novel, with John Hurt). Material from other works, including Ken Loach's 1995 drama Land and Freedom, about the Spanish Civil War, also offer pertinent perspectives surrounding Orwell's life and thought. But where the film really bites is in explicitly pairing the author's prescient ideas about capitalism and totalitarianism with well-chosen modern-day archive film. The usual suspects – Trump, Putin, Musk and Bezos – are all present, but the thought-provoking juxtapositions created by Peck often feel chilling. A shame the uneven balance between straightforward biography and radical political commentary is never quite nailed. – James Mottram Project Hail Mary Ryan Gosling’s mild-mannered science teacher heads to the far end of the galaxy in search of a solution to a dying sun that threatens life on Earth in this joyful and engaging sci-fi. The reluctant amateur astronaut negotiates tricky hurdles as his craft journeys through space, eventually teaming up with an alien whose own planet is facing a similar plight – a stone-like creature whom he names Rocky. Drew Goddard’s screenplay is adapted from a novel by Andy Weir, the same pairing that brought us 2015’s The Martian, and there are obvious parallels to be drawn between Gosling and Matt Damon in the earlier film. However, Project Hail Mary morphs into a buddy movie of sorts with the introduction of Rocky, taking the narrative more towards the family friendly sense of wonderment of Steven Spielberg’s extraterrestrial tales. Gosling’s boyish charm and charisma hold everything together, never allowing the jeopardy of his character’s predicament to overwhelm a heartwarming yarn with a rich seam of humour. – Terry Staunton Read our full Project Hail Mary review Read our interview with author Andy Weir Ready or Not 2: Here I Come Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are back with a splatter-filled, blackly comic sequel that picks up nicely where the original film left off. Grace (Samara Weaving) learns that her survival in the previous life-or-death game has triggered a legal clause that puts her in the sights of the world's wealthiest families. With the high seat on their council now up for grabs, the race is on to kill Grace before dawn. This time around, she's joined by her estranged sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton), while the cast of baddies makes room for the likes of David Cronenberg – as the head of the powerful Danforth family – Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy as his offspring, and Elijah Wood as a lawyer overseeing the new game. It’s a fun, John Wick-esque expansion of the story, with some fitting twists and turns that distract from a somewhat uninspired plot. The script could be sharper, but the visual wit and zeal of the participants more than makes up for it. Grace feels like a role Weaving was born to play, but the time seems right to give the gal a break. – Emma Simmonds Read our full Ready or Not 2: Here I Come review Read our interview with Sarah Michelle Gellar and Elijah Wood La Grazia The President of Italy is caught in a legal and ethical quagmire in this fitfully interesting political drama from writer/director Paolo Sorrentino (The Great Beauty). Played by Sorrentino’s long-standing leading man Toni Servillo, the principled Mariano De Santis may be a fictional president of the Italian Republic, but his dilemmas are very real. One of his main tasks is to sanction a law legalising euthanasia. He’s also forced to consider two pardons: a beloved teacher who killed his Alzheimer’s-stricken wife, and a young woman convicted of murdering her husband as he slept. Compared to earlier Sorrentino outings – notably 2008’s Il Divo, in which Servillo played real-life Italian politician Giulio Andreotti – this feels more muted, shorn of the director's more outré stylistic tendencies. There are still some surprising set-pieces (including an insane rainstorm), and a thoughtful turn from Servillo, who offers up a cinematic rarity: a politician free from scandal and corruption. Ultimately, it’s a quiet character study – aside from the bizarre choice of a techno musical score – but one that never truly explodes into life. – James Mottram How to Make a Killing The "eat the rich" sub-genre gains a serviceable if unspectacular addition with this thriller starring Glen Powell. Written and directed by John Patton Ford (Emily the Criminal), the title has a neat double entendre, as it opens with Becket Redfellow (Powell) recounting to a priest how he murdered his aristocratic family to claim $28 billion in inheritance. A light-on-its-feet 105 minutes follows, as Becket "prunes a few branches from the family tree" with schemes involving yachts, a bow and arrow and teeth-whitening kits. Powell is a charismatic presence, while Bill Camp and Zach Woods provide the strongest comedic passages as two of his ill-fated kin. Despite aiming to be keenly modern, though, the film can't escape its roots as a wholesale remake of 1949 classic Kind Hearts and Coronets, which ironically leaves it feeling more like a distant relative than an heir apparent to that superlative Ealing comedy. – Max Copeman Read our full review Read our interview with Glen Powell Reminders of Him Vanessa Caswill helms romance novelist Colleen Hoover’s third big-screen literary adaptation, which arrives largely as expected. Kenna Rowan (Maika Monroe) has just been released from prison following a tragic mistake, and has returned home hoping to earn some forgiveness and reconnect with her young daughter, Diem (Zoe Kosovic), whom she has never known. On the way, her head is turned by Ledger (Tyriq Withers), an NFL player-turned bar owner whose connection to her, of course, runs deeper than she first realises. There’s neither a great deal to remark on or to ridicule here, with some solid performances and convincing chemistry from the well-cast Monroe and Withers the most impressive aspects of the film. Despite moments of cliché and a fairly regular script, Reminders of Him still offers a dash of sweetness, a dose of cheesiness, and a fun country twang. Its predicable, tear-jerking path proves engaging enough, ultimately delivering a sentimental – if unremarkable – date-night tale of love, family and forgiveness that will almost certainly satisfy fans of "CoHo". – Chezelle Bingham Read our full review Read our interview with Maika Monroe & Tyriq Withers Hoppers Pixar blends body-swap chaos with a story about empowering environmentalism in this film directed by We Bare Bears creator Daniel Chong. Teenage activist Mabel (voiced by Piper Curda) is determined to save a forest glade from being bulldozed by Mayor Jerry (Jon Hamm). After uncovering the clandestine experiments of her biology professor (Kathy Najimy), Mabel transfers her consciousness into the body of a lifelike robotic beaver. She befriends a real beaver, King George (Bobby Moynihan), who calls on the assistance of other animal rulers – including Meryl Streep’s formidable Insect Queen – to protect the glade, before things go horribly wrong. Pixar’s take on beavers is as cute as you’d imagine, and the ferociously principled Mabel makes a fascinating hero. The sparkling script from Jesse Andrews (Luca, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) boasts a meaty, moderately complicated story that engages without becoming too confusing. It’s not quite up there with the studio’s finest but this is still witty and wonderfully entertaining, with a positive message about coexistence and not judging our fellow humans too harshly. – Emma Simmonds Read our full Hoppers review Scream 7 As macabre as it may seem, the sound of a shiny blade slicing into human flesh has rarely sounded so reassuring. The seventh spin of the Scream carousel represents a kind of homecoming, with the return of both the franchise’s most enduring heroine (Neve Campbell) and the man who created the whole business 30 years ago (Kevin Williamson) contributing hugely to a horror that’s by no means perfect but isn’t short on pizzazz. Naysayers might be of the opinion that no matter the changes in location or victims, the Scream series has a tendency to repeat itself; and while there’s more than a smidgen of truth in that, the seventh chapter at least displays more style and wit than the last couple of so-so outings. The mystery elements could have been handled more effectively, and while the grisly attacks and fight scenes are choreographed with flair they don’t offer viewers much in the way of jaw-dropping shocks they haven’t seen before. But despite undeniable faults, plot holes and a dubious ending, it’s still a crowd-pleaser executed with zest. – Terry Staunton Read our full Scream 7 review Sirat View Green Video on the source website Taking its name from the Arabic word for a bridge between heaven and hell, this mercilessly tense thriller from Galician writer/director Oliver Laxe holds its audience in a vice-like grip. It follows Luis (Sergi López), a middle-aged Spanish man who takes his pre-teen son and dog to an illegal rave in the Moroccan desert, having heard that his missing daughter might be there. When it gets shut down, he continues his search by following a group of partygoers (played by non-professional actors) towards the Mauritanian border. A perilous road trip follows, and as Luis becomes a fish increasingly out of water, nods to Heart of Darkness or Mad Max give way to the four-wheeled hallucinatory kicks of William Friedkin thriller Sorcerer. There are breathtakingly cruel bumps in the road and a political backdrop that may feel inelegantly plotted, but such concerns give way to the overall sensory experience – and an existential edge to the survival story. As an electronic music score sends basslines throbbing and the ravers’ subwoofers pulsing, this utterly exhilarating film becomes a parable for our relationship with fate and the sublime. – Max Copeman 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 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 British horror classics The Wicker Man and Don't Look Now to iconic romcom Four Weddings and a Funeral. 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 17 April Broken Arrow - 3:20pm, Film4 Western starring James Stewart and Jeff Chandler. Arizona in the 1870s: a US army scout, tired of the continual violence and slaughter between whites and native Americans, meets the Apache leader Cochise to negotiate a truce. Unexpectedly, the scout falls in love with a young Apache girl. Read our full review Road to Perdition - 9pm, Great TV Period crime drama starring Tom Hanks and Paul Newman. The Midwest in the 1930s: when the profession of ruthless hitman Michael Sullivan is discovered, a killer is sent to eradicate him and his family. But Sullivan and his 12-year-old son escape and embark upon a life-changing journey of revenge. Read our full review The Wicker Man - 11:05pm, BBC Two Classic horror starring Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee. When a policeman receives an anonymous letter suggesting that a girl has mysteriously disappeared from a small island community, he sets out to investigate. On his arrival, the villagers deny any knowledge of the girl, and he soon discovers that life on the island is not all that it seems. Read our full review The Royal Hotel - 11:25pm, BBC One Psychological thriller starring Julia Garner and Jessica Henwick. In need of some extra cash, American backpackers Hanna and Liv take live-in jobs at a pub in a remote Australian outback mining town. As the atmosphere turns from riotous to sinister, the two women realise that they are trapped in an increasingly dangerous situation. Read our full review Saturday 18 April Sabrina- 12:50pm, Sky Arts Romantic comedy starring Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn and William Holden. Heartbroken Sabrina, daughter of the chauffeur to a wealthy family, is sent to France after falling for eligible bachelor David Larrabee. She returns a changed woman but will she be luckier in love second time around? Read our full review Matilda - 3pm, Channel 5 Comic fantasy based on the book by Roald Dahl, starring Mara Wilson and Danny DeVito. Matilda, the daughter of Harry and Zinnia Wormwood, has adored reading from a precociously early age, but her parents refuse to let her go to school. Until, that is, her father sends her to the unforgiving Miss Trunchbull's Crunchem Hall, where she discovers that she has other more useful gifts. Read our full review The Spy Who Came in from the Cold - 4pm, Legend Spy drama adapted from the novel by John le Carré, starring Richard Burton. Disillusioned with the world of espionage, secret agent Alec Leamas is desperate to retire from British Intelligence. However, his superiors decide that this air of disenchantment is the perfect cover for a potential defector, and Leamas is sent behind the Iron Curtain for one last assignment. But nothing is as it seems. Read our full review Minority Report - 8pm, ITV2 View Green Video on the source website Futuristic action thriller from director Steven Spielberg, based on the Philip K Dick short story, starring Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell and Samantha Morton. In the mid-21st century, John Anderton is in charge of the Justice Department's Precrime unit, an elite force that can predict offences and make arrests before the crimes are committed. But Anderton's life falls apart when he is labelled a future murderer and forced to go on the run to clear his name. Read our full review Last Night in Soho - 11:20pm, Film4 Psychological horror thriller starring Thomasin McKenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy and Matt Smith. Obsessed by all things 1960s, Eloise moves from Cornwall to London to study fashion design. She rents a room where at night she finds herself mysteriously transported back to Soho in the 60s. There, Eloise becomes intrigued by glamorous wannabe singer Sandie. But this dazzling new world is not all that it seems... Read our full review Sunday 19 April Despicable Me - 3:05pm, BBC One Animated comedy featuring the voice of Steve Carell. Behind the seemingly tranquil façade of small-town America, super-criminal Gru plots his biggest heist yet: to steal the Moon. But an encounter with orphan sisters Margo, Edith and Agnes proves that even the most dastardly villain has a soft centre. Read our full review Local Hero - 11am, Film4 Comedy drama starring Peter Riegert and Burt Lancaster. MacIntyre, a young American oil executive, is sent to a small Scottish village, which his company intends to buy and transform into a new refinery site. But while attempting to negotiate with the local community, he finds himself irresistibly drawn to the area. Read our full review Stagecoach - 4:10pm, 5 Action Classic western starring John Wayne and Claire Trevor. The Ringo Kid, a fugitive from justice, joins an assortment of passengers on the stagecoach to Lordsburg, a journey that takes them through Native American territory. Read our full review Junior Bonner - 5:35pm, Great Action Drama starring Steve McQueen, Robert Preston and Ida Lupino. Rodeo star Junior Bonner returns to his home town of Prescott, Arizona, to enter an annual contest. Eagerly looking forward to a reunion with his family, he is shocked to find land developers on the site where his home once stood, his scoundrel father in hospital after a drunken scrape and his mother forced to take in boarders to make ends meet. Read our full review The King’s Speech - 10pm, BBC Two Oscar-winning historical drama starring Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush. As part of his royal duties, Prince Albert is required to speak at public events, a task made all the more difficult owing to his severe stammer. The death of his father and subsequent abdication of his older brother means that "Bertie" is to be crowned king. Unconventional speech therapist Lionel Logue is enlisted to help the future George VI find his voice - and despite Logue's disregard for all things stately, the two men form an unlikely bond. Read our full review Monday 20 April The Lady From Shanghai - 10:20pm, Talking Pictures TV Romantic crime drama starring Rita Hayworth, and produced, written, directed by and co-starring Orson Welles. Michael O'Hara is hired by lawyer Arthur Bannister to work on his yacht, and during a cruise finds himself drawn to Arthur's younger wife, Elsa. However, Michael and Elsa's movements are being watched by a private detective, while the arrival of Arthur's business partner sees events take a murderous twist. Read our full review The Look of Love - 11:05pm, Film4 Biographical comedy drama starring Steve Coogan, Anna Friel and Imogen Poots. Entrepreneur Paul Raymond went from small-time variety performer to one of the richest men in Britain after building an empire based on adult entertainment and pornography. But did wealth and a flamboyant life of excess really bring him true happiness? Read our full review Thirteen Lives - 11:10pm, BBC One View Green Video on the source website Disaster thriller based on a true story, starring Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell and Joel Edgerton. In June 2018, 12 junior football players and their adult coach become trapped inside Thailand's Tham Luang cave due to rapidly rising waters. Rescue attempts are made by officials but, as time runs out, an unlikely source of hope emerges: a ragtag group of amateur cave-diving enthusiasts. Read our full review Tuesday 21 April A Foreign Affair - 11am, Film4 Romantic comedy drama starring Jean Arthur, Marlene Dietrich and John Lund. Clean-cut congresswoman Phoebe Frost arrives to investigate GI morality in post Second World War Berlin and runs into crooked Captain John Pringle and his mistress, a nightclub singer with a shady past. Read our full review Winchester ‘73 - 3pm, Film4 Western starring James Stewart, Dan Duryea and Shelley Winters. Lin McAdam arrives in Dodge City in hot pursuit of his father's killer. He wins a coveted Winchester '73 rifle in the Fourth of July shooting contest, but the gun is stolen and McAdam sets about retrieving his prize. Read our full review Four Weddings and a Funeral - 10:40pm, BBC One Romantic comedy starring Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell. Together with a group of his friends, 30-something Charles is regularly invited to weddings, but he wonders if he will ever be ready to tie the knot himself. Then, at a country marriage, he meets the beautiful but elusive Carrie, who seduces him that night and leaves him utterly bemused when she returns to America the following day. Read our full review Wednesday 22 April Charade - 4pm, Talking Pictures TV Romantic comedy thriller starring Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn and Walter Matthau. The body of a man hurtles from the carriage of a train speeding across the French countryside, and for Regina Lampert life becomes bewildering. It also becomes sinister when she returns to Paris to find her flat stripped bare. Who is telling the truth, and whom can she trust? Read our full review Knock at the Cabin - 11:05pm, Film 4 Horror thriller starring Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge and Dave Bautista. Eric and Andrew, along with their young daughter, are vacationing in the remote woodland of Pennsylvania. Their stay is interrupted when four strangers wielding makeshift weapons break in and issue an ultimatum: to prevent the end of the world, one member of the family must offer themselves as sacrifice. Read our full review Love and Pain and the Whole Damn Thing – 11:45pm, Talking Pictures TV The aimless son of a doctor living in Spain falls madly in love with a much older woman he meets while cycling through the countryside. Despite her initial reluctance, she eventually succumbs to his charm and sincerity, but their romance is doomed to end in tragedy. Drama, starring Maggie Smith, Timothy Bottoms and Charles Baxter. Read our full review Thursday 23 April The Heiress - 11am, Film4 Oscar-winning period drama based on Henry James's novel Washington Square, starring Olivia de Havilland, Montgomery Clift and Ralph Richardson. Wealthy widower Dr Austin Sloper considers his daughter Catherine unattractive and dull. When she tells him about a prospective suitor, he labels the young man a mere fortune hunter, but Catherine is sure that Morris Townsend is sincere. Read our full review A Knight’s Tale - 6:25pm, Film4 Romantic period adventure starring Heath Ledger. In 14th-century Europe, William, a young commoner, poses as Sir Ulric of Liechtenstein, a knight. But can he change his lowly destiny by winning jousting tournaments, or will the evil Count Adhemar discover the deception before William can win the fair Lady Jocelyn's hand? Read our full review Widows - 10:55pm, Film4 View Green Video on the source website Crime drama based on Lynda LaPlante's 1980s TV series, starring Viola Davis, Elizabeth Debicki and Michelle Rodriguez. When Veronica Rawlins's husband, a career thief, is killed during a big heist, she finds herself in debt to a dangerous crime boss. A desperate Veronica recruits the other widows of her husband's gang for her own audacious robbery, though the women soon discover there are far more powerful forces at play. Read our full review Friday 24 April Wall Street - 9pm, Great TV Western starring James Stewart and Jeff Chandler. Arizona in the 1870s: a US army scout, tired of the continual violence and slaughter between whites and native Americans, meets the Apache leader Cochise to negotiate a truce. Unexpectedly, the scout falls in love with a young Apache girl. Read our full review The Reckless Moment - 9:05pm, Talking Pictures TV A mother mistakenly believes her daughter has killed her good-for-nothing lover, and dumps his body in a harbour. Unfortunately, her drastic action attracts the attention of a strangely mild-mannered blackmailer. Drama, starring James Mason, Joan Bennett, Geraldine Brooks and Shepperd Strudwick. Read our full review Don’t Look Now - 11:05pm, BBC Two Nicolas Roeg's supernatural thriller, adapted from Daphne du Maurier's short story, starring Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie. Following the tragic drowning of their young daughter, John and Laura Baxter go to Venice - he to work, she to recuperate. There they meet two sisters, one of whom claims to be able to communicate with the dead child. Caught up in the bizarre events that follow, the Baxters are drawn inexorably toward a mysterious and forbidding fate. Read our full review Skyscraper - 11:20pm, ITV1 Action adventure starring Dwayne Johnson. Former FBI agent Will Sawyer now works security on high-rise buildings. After a Chinese skyscraper is set ablaze on his watch, Sawyer is blamed and must fight to prove his innocence - while also rescuing his family from the towering inferno. 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.
Best films released in the UK this month: April 2026
Highlights include The Drama, Undertone and Mother Mary.
We head into the April off the back of a pretty strong first quarter of the year at UK cinemas – thanks both to awards season films that arrived in the UK after their 2025 American premieres and major new films like Project Hail Mary and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. This month sees another varied selection, with the box office expected to be dominated by two new releases in particular: the second animated Super Mario movie and the biopic of highly controversial pop superstar Michael Jackson. But there are plenty of other options as well, from Zendaya and Robert Pattinson's new movie The Drama to buzzy horror title Undertone to the extremely intriguing Mother Mary – which stars Anne Hathaway as a fictional pop star and has been described as undefinable even by it's own director David Lowery. Elsewhere, Josh O'Connor turns in another stellar performance in low-key gem Rebuilding, two Scottish actors – James McAvoy and Brian Cox – both make their directorial debuts with California Schemin' and Glenrothan respectively, and Regé-Jean Page and Halle Bailey lead new romcom You, Me and Tuscany. There's all that plus Jude Law starring as Vladimir Putin and the latest project from acclaimed, offbeat Cornish director Mark Jenkin – so plenty to get stuck into. To help you pick out the highlights, we've put together a selection of some of the best films to watch this month – check out the video above or read on for our choices. Best films released in the UK this month: April 2026 The Super Mario Galaxy Movie <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/03/Mario-Galaxy-992e20c.jpg" width="2415" height="1608" alt="Luigi (Charlie Day), Mario (Chris Pratt), Yoshi (Donald Glover) and Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) inThe Super Mario Galaxy Movie" title="Luigi (Charlie Day), Mario (Chris Pratt), Yoshi (Donald Glover) and Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) inThe Super Mario Galaxy Movie" /> Release date: Friday 1 April in cinemas This follow-up to the 2023 mega-hit is based on the 2007 video game Super Mario Galaxy and introduces some more of the beloved Nintendo characters, with Donald Glover and Brie Larson joining the voice cast as Yoshi and Rosalina respectively. The plot will see iconic Italian plumbers Mario and Luigi befriend Yoshi and join Princess Peach and Toad on an adventure into outer space, where they meet Rosalina and once again face off against Bowser and his son, Bowser Jr. The Drama Release date: Friday 3 April in cinemas Robert Pattinson and Zendaya lead this comedy drama from writer director Kristoffer Borgli (Dream Scenario) about a couple whose plans for their upcoming wedding are upended when a shocking secret comes to light about Zendaya's character's past. Much has been made about the nature of that secret – though its of course best to avoid spoilers before watching – but this certainly looks like a film that will spark conversation... Fuze Release date: Friday 3 April in cinemas Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as a bomb disposal expert who is brought in to urgently assist when an unexploded WWII bomb is discovered in Central London in this crime thriller from director David McKenzie. But that bomb is just the starting point for a film that also involves a major heist element, with the supporting cast including key roles for Theo James, Sam Worthington and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. California Schemin' View Green Video on the source website Release date: Friday 10 April in cinemas James McAvoy makes his directorial debut with this biographical drama about Silibil N' Brains, a Scottish rap duo who pretended to be American in their bid to make it in the music industry – and ended up supporting some very major names. Based on the true story of Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd and adapted from the former's memoir California Schemin': How Two Lads from Scotland Conned the Music Industry, it boasts energetic performances from Samuel Bottomley and Séamus McLean Ross as the central duo, while McAvoy also has a key role himself. You, Me and Tuscany Release date: Friday 10 April in cinemas This Italy-set romcom stars Halle Bailey as a young cook who unexpectedly find love after taking a trip to Tuscany and posing as the fiancé of a man she'd met only once after being found squatting in his house. In the process of keeping up the pretence – which involves spending a lot of time with the man's somewhat eccentric family – she also meets his cousin Michael (Regé-Jean Page), and sparks begin to fly... Undertone Release date: Friday 10 April in cinemas This buzzy horror film from first-time director Ian Tuason follows two podcast hosts who are sent an eerie, mysterious email from one of their listeners, containing some very creepy voice recordings. Unfolding entirely from the perspective of Evy (Nina Kiri) – the more sceptical of the two hosts who is also caring for her ill mother – most of the scares come from the film's terrifying sound design, which leaves plenty to the imagination. Lee Cronin's The Mummy Release date: Friday 17 April in cinemas No relation to the previous Mummy films, this supernatural horror from Evil Dead Rise director Lee Cronin follows the creepy events that occur when a girl shows up eight years after she had disappeared. The synopsis teases: "What should have been a joyful family reunion quickly turns into a true nightmare..." The Wizard of the Kremlin Release date: Friday 17 April in cinemas Jude Law plays Vladimir Putin in this satire based on a 2022 novel of the same name, with Paul Dano and Alicia Vikander also in the star-studded cast and acclaimed French director Olivier Assayas at the helm. It follows a fictional character named Vadim Baranov (Dano), who morphs from a young artist in 1990s Russia into an influential government official and spin doctor at the heart of the government. Rebuilding View Green Video on the source website Release date: Friday 17 April in cinemas Josh O'Connor has the starring role alongside Meghann Fahy and recent Oscar-winner Amy Madigan in this low-key Western about a man named Dusty who is attempting to rebuild his life after his ranch is destroyed by wildfires. The synopsis continues: "Dusty winds up in a FEMA camp finding community with others who lost homes, after reuniting with his daughter and ex-wife." Glenrothan Release date: Friday 17 April in cinemas Brian Cox directs and leads the cast of this comedy drama described as a "love letter to Scotland" with Alan Cumming also starring. Cumming plays Donal, a man who returns to Scotland after 35 years abroad in a bid to make amends with his brother Sandy, played by Cox. Michael Release date: Wednesday 22 April in cinemas This biopic of controversial pop superstar Michael Jackson sees Jaafar Jackson – Michael's nephew – take on the central role, with Antoine Fuqua directing and Colman Domingo starring as his father Joe. The film is mainly focused on Jackson's early life and career, including his time with the Jackson 5 and his start as a solo artist, but it seems certain to reopen conversations about his legacy. Mother Mary View Green Video on the source website Release date: Friday 24 April in cinemas Anne Hathaway plays a fictional pop star in this mysterious new psychological drama from writer/director David Lowery, which also stars Michaela Coel, Hunter Schafer, Sian Clifford and FKA Twigs. According to a synopsis, it will follow the "psychosexual affair between pop singer Mary and fashion designer Sam (Coel) after the former's need for a dress for her new tour draws them back together." Rose of Nevada Release date: Friday 24 April in cinemas The third film from audacious Cornish director Mark Jenkin is an intriguing sci-fi drama starring George MacKay and Callum Turner. The synopsis reads: "A mysterious boat returns to a village thirty years after it vanished. Two men join its crew hoping for better fortune. After one voyage, they find themselves transported back in time, mistaken for the original crew." 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 films released in the UK this month: March 2026
Highlights include Project Hail Mary, The Good Boy and Splitsville.
With the majority of the major awards season films having come and blockbuster season still a while off, March can sometimes be a quiet release for new film releases – but there's still plenty yo look forward to for film fans in the UK this month. We've already seen the release of Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Bride and Pixar's latest animation Hoppers, while hotly-anticipated Peaky Blinders sequel movie The Immortal Man has arrived in cinemas ahead of a Netflix release on 20 March. The headliner for the rest of the month is undoubtedly sci-fi epic Project Hail Mary, based on a best-selling novel by The Martian author Andy Weir, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and starring Ryan Gosling in the lead role. Early buzz has been very strong. There's also an intriguing thriller starring Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough, an acclaimed comedy starring Dakota Johnson and Adria Arjona and another – yes another – Colleen Hoover adaptation, this time led by Maika Monroe. Meanwhile, horror fans have sequel Ready or Not 2: Here I Come to look forward to and if you're after something for the whole family, there's also a starry new Enid Blyton adaptation on the way. So plenty of variety! To help you pick out the highlights, we've put together a selection of some of the best films to watch this month – check out the video above or read on for our choices. Best films released in the UK this month: March 2026 The Bride Release date: Friday 6 March in cinemas Maggie Gyllenhaal follows up her acclaimed directorial debut The Lost Daughter with something very different: a raucous reimagining of The Bride of Frankenstein starring Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale. Set in mid-1930s US it follows Frankenstein (Bale) and his newly reanimated Bride (Buckley) as they embark on a Bonnie and Clyde-esque lovers on the lam killing spree, with plenty of bold stylistic flourishes along the way. Hoppers Release date: Friday 6 March in cinemas Pixar's latest follows a young girl who uses a new invention to transfer her mind to a lifelike robotic beaver, allowing her to communicate with animals as she helps to save their natural habitat from destruction at the hands of a new development. That development is spearheaded by greedy mayor Jerry Generazzo (Jon Hamm), while the starry voice cast also includes role for Dave Franco and Meryl Streep, among others. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Release date: Friday 6 March in cinemas (Friday 20 March on Netflix) Cillian Murphy returns as Tommy Shelby for this big screen sequel to the iconic Birmingham gangster series – set during the Second World War and introducing some starry new cast members including Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth and Barry Keoghan. The latter stars as Duke Shelby, Tommy's illegitimate child introduced towards the end of the TV show, who is enlisted in a mission by Nazi sympathiser Beckett (Roth) forcing his father to end his self-imposed exile. How to Make a Killing View Green Video on the source website Release date: Wednesday 11 March in cinemas Glen Powell and Margaret Qualley star in this black comedy thriller from writer director John Patton Ford (Emily the Criminal) – which is a loose remake of the 1949 British classic Kind Hearts and Coronets. Powell plays Becket Redfellow a would-be aristocrat who has been disowned by his family and realises he stands to gain a fortune if he can dispatch the various relatives than stand in his way. Reminders of Him Release date: Friday 13 March in cinemas The third film adaptation of a Colleen Hoover novel in under two years stars Maika Monroe and Tyriq Withers as a pair of unlikely romantic partners. The official synopsis reads: "After prison, a woman attempts to reconnect with her young daughter but faces resistance from everyone except a bar owner with ties to her child. As they grow closer, she must confront her past mistakes to build a hopeful future." A Pale View of Hills Release date: Friday 13 March in cinemas This adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's novel follows a Japanese widow as she relives her life between '50s post-war Nagasaki and '80s Cold War England. Directed by Kei Ishikawa, the predominantly Japanese cast includes Suzu Hirose, Fumi Nikaido, Yō Yoshida and Camilla Aiko. Project Hail Mary View Green Video on the source website Release date: Friday 20 March in cinemas Ryan Gosling stars in this buzzy adaptation of Andy Weir's epic sci-fi novel about a science teacher who is hired for a vital mission in space – where he ends up making an unlikely ally in the form of an extra-terrestrial creature he calls Rocky. The movie opens when he wakes up on a spaceship with no recollection of who he is or how he got there, with the story then unfolding both in flashbacks as we learn the circumstances of the mission and in space as he goes about remembering his identity and purpose. Ready or Not 2: Here I Come Release date: Friday 20 March in cinemas Samara Weaving returns as Grace in this horror sequel that picks up immediately after the 2019 original – with Kathryn Newton joining the cast as her sister, with whom she is not on the most friendly terms. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett return as directors as Grace and her sister are forced to play yet another deadly game of hide and seek, this time even more brutal than the last. The Good Boy Release date: Friday 20 March in cinemas Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough star as a dysfunctional couple who abduct a teen criminal and try to rehabilitate him using some very extreme methods in this intriguing black comic thriller from director Jan Komasa. The film attracted some strong reviews when it premiered at last year's Toronto Film Festival, earning comparisons to the early work of the multi-Oscar nominated Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos. The Magic Faraway Tree View Green Video on the source website Release date: Friday 27 March in cinemas A star-studded cast has been assembled to bring this adaptation of an Enid Blyton classic to life – with Paddington's Simon Farnaby on screenplay duties and Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy and rebecca Ferguson just three of the big names to feature. The official synopsis reads: "A modern family relocates to the countryside where the children discover a magical tree with eccentric residents. They're transported to fantastical lands, rekindling their family bond through adventures." They Will Kill You Release date: Friday 27 March in cinemas This horror comedy stars Zazie Beetz as an ex-convict who answers an ad to be a housekeeper in a New York City high-rise – which it turns out is holding some sinister secrets. The impressive supporting cast also includes Myha'la, Paterson Joseph, Tom Felton, Heather Graham and Patricia Arquette. Splitsville Release date: Friday 27 March in cinemas Dakota Johnson and Adria Arjona star in this acclaimed comedy from writer/director Michael Angelo Covino, about an open marriage that begins to turn sour. The official synopsis reads: "When Ashley asks for a divorce, the good-natured Carey runs to his friends, Julie and Paul, for support. Their secret to happiness is an open marriage; that is, until Carey crosses the line and throws all of their relationships into chaos." 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.
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.
FC 26 defenders: Best CB, RB and LB in Career Mode
From centre-backs to full-backs, these are FC 26’s best defenders.
Fergie once said that attack wins you games, but defence wins you titles, and since he knows a thing or two about football, we reckon you should start loading up your squad with the best defenders in FC 26. Whether you're after a towering centre-back or a tricky full-pack to terrorise your opponents, these players are the best of the best in the back line – just make sure you're using one of the best formations to get the most out of them. If you need a bit of youth in your team, then you're probably better off with some of the best FC 26 wonderkids. Alternatively, our cheapest high-rated players will get you a bargain or two in Ultimate Team. For stopping the goals, however, you can't say much better than this full list of the very best FC 26 defenders in each position. Best defenders in FC 26 (Men) Looking for a ball-playing CB or a brick wall? You’ll find them in this list, along with flying full-backs capable of overlapping with the game’s best wingers. Despite Liverpool's Van Dijk being the top-rated defender and the best male CB in FC 26, it’s PSG that has three players in the top 10. Virgil van Dijk | 90 | CB | Liverpool Achraf Hakimi | 89 | RB | Paris Saint-Germain Gabriel | 88 | CB | Arsenal Alessandro Bastoni | 87 | CB | Lombardia FC (Inter Milan) Marquinhos | 87 | CB | Paris Saint-Germain William Saliba | 87 | CB | Arsenal Jonathan Tah | 87 | CB | Bayern Munich Jules Kounde | 87 | RB | FC Barcelona Trent Alexander-Arnold | 86 | RB | Real Madrid Nuno Mendes | 86 | LB | Paris Saint-Germain These are the overall top 10, but if you're looking for a more specific breakdown, here are the best defenders in each position. Best centre-backs in FC 26 Here are the top 10 best CBs in FC 26: Virgil van Dijk | 90 | CB | Liverpool Gabriel | 88 | CB | Arsenal Alessandro Bastoni | 87 | CB | Lombardia FC (Inter Milan) Marquinhos | 87 | CB | Pars Saint-Germain William Saliba | 87 | CB | Arsenal Jonathan Tah | 87 | CB | Bayern Munich Antonio Rüdiger | 86 | CB | Real Madrid Rúben Dias | 86 | CB | Manchester City Willian Pacho | 86 | CB | Paris Saint-Germain Ibrahima Konaté | 86 | CB | Liverpool Best left-backs in FC 26 Here are the top 10 best LBs in FC 26: Nuno Mendes | 86 | LB | Paris Saint-Germain Federico Dimarco | 85 | LB | Lombardia FC (Inter Milan) Theo Hernández | 84 | LB | Al-Hilal Joško Gvardiol | 84 | LB | Manchester City Marc Cucurella | 82 | LB | Chelsea Alphonso Davies | 82 | LB | Bayern Munich Alejandro Balde | 82 | LB | FC Barcelona José Gayà | 81 | LB | Valencia CF Miguel Gutiérrez | 80 | LB | Girona FC Maxim De Cuyper | 80 | LB | Brighton Best right-backs in FC 26 Here are the top 10 best RBs in FC 26: Achraf Hakimi | 89 | RB | Paris Saint-Germain Jules Koundé | 87 | RB | FC Barcelona Trent Alexander-Arnold | 86 | RB | Real Madrid Dani Carvajal | 85 | RB | Real Madrid Marcos Llorente | 84 | RB | Real Madrid Joāo Cancelo | 84 | RB | Al-Hilal Jeremie Frimpong | 83 | RB | Liverpool Benjamin White | 83 | RB | Arsenal Reece James | 82 | RB | Chelsea Giovanni Di Lorenzo | 82 | RB | Napoli Best defenders in FC 26 (Women) Barcelona’s CB pairing of Mapi Leon and Irene Paredes sits atop the women’s defence rankings (and joint top in terms of the best female CB rankings). Barca's RB, Batlle, isn’t far behind, either. Chelsea has three players of their own in the top 10, too. Mapi Leon | 89 | CB | FC Barcelona Irene Paredes | 89 | CB | FC Barcelona Leah Williamson | 87 | CB | Arsenal Millie Bright | 87 | CB | Chelsea Lucy Bronze | 87 | RB | Chelsea Katie McCabe | 87 | LB | Arsenal Ona Batlle | 86 | RB | FC Barcelona Selma Bacha | 85 | LB | OL Lyonnes Naomi Girma | 85 | CB | Chelsea Wendie Renard | 85 | CB | OL Lyonnes For more tips on building out your FC squad this year, check out more of our articles below. Read more on FC 26: FC 26 player ratings confirmed: Top-rated players FC 26 wonderkids: Best young players FC 26 fastest players FC 26 soundtrack How to do Siu celebration in FC 26 How to do the Cole Palmer celebration in FC 26 FC 26 FUT Champs rewards FC 26 wingers: Best RW, LW, RM and LM Check out more of our Gaming 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 films released in the UK this month: February 2026
Highlights include Wuthering Heights, The Secret Agent and The Testament of Ann Lee.
You might think that February would be a relatively slow time for film releases – but this year it's anything but in the UK. A huge variety of big new movies are making their way to cinemas throughout the month, with some real treats in store for film fans of all stripes. The headline grabber is, without doubt, Wuthering Heights. Emily Brontë's iconic gothic novel has been adapted for the big screen on many previous occasions, of course, but with Saltburn director Emerald Fennell at the helm – and Charli xcx providing the soundtrack – this iteration looks like being something completely different. There are also several films that have featured heavily in the ongoing awards season, including Brazilian drama The Secret Agent, which is the final film from the Oscars best picture line-up to arrive in the UK. Meanwhile, one of its competitors in the best international feature race, Sirât, also arrives at the end of the month. One film that hasn't received too much love from awards bodies – but which deserves huge acclaim – is Mona Fastvold's The Testament of Ann Lee, a unique, fascinating and remarkably moving period musical about the titular founder of the Shakers. Plus there's acclaimed British independent drama My Father's Shadow, Sam Raimi's first non-franchise feature in more than years years Send Help and Kristen Stewart's directorial debut The Chronology of Water. And that's barely scratching the surface – it really is a bumper month. To help you pick out the highlights, we've put together a selection of some of the best films to watch this month – check out the video above or read on for our choices. Best films released in the UK this month: February 2026 Send Help Release date: Thursday 5th February in cinemas Sam Raimi's first non-franchise film since the release of Drag Me to Hell back in 2009 is a tremendously entertaining desert island-set comedy-horror starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien. McAdams plays Linda Liddle, a woman who is obsessed with reality TV show Survivor and is frequently belittled by her corporate boss (O'Brien) – until they both find themselves stranded after a dramatic plane crash and their dynamic resultantly flips on its head. Expect plenty of Raimi's trademark kinetic camerawork and bursts of gore. 100 Nights of Hero Release date: Friday 6th February in cinemas Maika Monroe, Emma Corrin and Nicholas Galitzine star in this charming and visually striking modern day fairytale from writer/director Julia Jackman, which reimagines the Eastern folktale One Thousand and One Nights through a queer, feminist lens. It follows Cherry (Monroe) a newly-married woman whose neglectful husband – after making a bet – leaves her alone for 100 nights with his friend (Galitzine) to test her fidelity, only to find her forming a close bond with her loyal maid (Corrin). The Chronology of Water Release date: Friday 6th February in cinemas Imogen Poots stars in Kristen Stewart's directorial debut, which is based on the memoir of competitive swimmer turned writer Lidia Yuknavitch. The film deals with some very dark subject matter connected to Lidia's abusive childhood, with the synopsis revealing how it follows her as she "finds her voice through the written word and her salvation as a swimmer – ultimately becoming a triumphant teacher, mother and a singular modern writer". Hamlet Release date: Friday 6th February in cinemas Riz Ahmed takes on the iconic role of Hamlet in this modern day reinterpretation of Shakespeare's tragedy, with Morfydd Clark, Joe Alwyn, Sheeba Chaddha, Art Malik and Timothy Spall also starring. The abridged version of the play keeps the Shakespearean verse in tact but filters the drama through a contemporary, British-Asian lens, with director Aneil Karia adding some interesting stylistic flourishes throughout. My Father's Shadow Release date: Friday 6th February in cinemas This acclaimed, award-winning drama starring Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù is the first feature by Akinola Davies Jr, and takes place during the 1993 Nigerian election crisis. The official synopsis teases: "Two young brothers explore Lagos with their estranged father during the 1993 Nigerian election crisis, witnessing both the city's magnitude and their father's daily struggles as political unrest threatens their journey home." Wuthering Heights Release date: Friday 13th February in cinemas Emerald Fennell's much-discussed adaptation of the classic Emily Brontë novel stars Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, while the music will be provided by Charli xcx. Of course, the plot itself will be familiar to most, following the doomed love that develops between that central pair. Just don't expect an adaptation that follows tradition – Fennell seems certain to shake things with this version. Crime 101 Release date: Friday 13th February in cinemas Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Barry Keoghan and Halle Berry star in this crime thriller from writer/director Bart Layton – his first film since American Animals in 2018. Adapted from a short story by Don Winslow, the plot follows various interlocking characters, most notably a Los Angeles detective (Ruffalo) the elusive thief he is chasing (Hemsworth) and an insurance broker who gets caught in the middle of things (Berry). If I Had Legs I'd Kick You Release date: Friday 20th February in cinemas Rose Byrne has won huge acclaim – and an Oscar nomination – for her leading turn in this heavy-hitting psychological drama from Mary Bronstein about the anxieties of motherhood. The synopsis teases: "With her life crashing down around her, Linda tries to navigate her daughter's mysterious illness, her absent husband, a missing person, and an increasingly hostile relationship with her therapist." The Secret Agent Release date: Friday 20th February in cinemas This Oscar-nominated drama stars Wagner Moura (Civil War, Narcos) as a teacher who goes on the run after being caught up in the political turmoil of 1970 Brazil – seeking refuge in a community in his hometown of Recife while being targeted by assassins. The film takes many fascinating narrative detours and perfectly captures the spirit of a very specific time and place, with stunning cinematography, a huge selection of standout scenes and plenty for the audience to chew on after the credits roll. Wasteman Release date: Friday 20th February in cinemas David Jonsson and Tom Blyth star in the prison-set drama following a parolee (Jonsson) whose hopes of early release are put at risk by the unpredictable behaviour of his volatile new cellmate (Blyth). Directed by Cal McMau – in his feature debut – and written by Hunter Andrews and Eoin Doran, the film was inspired by footage that was shot on cell phones inside real UK prisons. Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die Release date: Friday 20th February in cinemas Gore Verbinski's first film in nine years stars Sam Rockwell as a man who claims to be from the future and takes hostages at a Los Angeles diner in a bid to recruit unlikely heroes to help him save the world. The supporting cast includes Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, Asim Chaudhry and Juno Temple, among others. The Moment Release date: Friday 20th February in cinemas This mockumentary follows pop icon Charli xcx as she gears up to lead her first headlining tour – with Alexander Skarsgård among the supporting stars. Playing on the massive cultural phenomenon xcx created with the release of her album brat in 2024 – which famously kickstarted "brat summer" – the film also includes appearances from Rosanna Arquette and Jamie Demetriou, while Kylie Jenner, Rachel Sennott and Julia Fox all star as fictionalised versions of themselves. The Testament of Ann Lee Release date: Friday 27th February in cinemas Amanda Seyfried delivers a career defining performance in this spectacular period musical about the life of Shaker founder Ann Lee – directed by Mona Fastvold from a script she co-wrote with Brady Corbet. Incorporating several superb reworkings of Shaker hymns courtesy of Oscar-winning composer Daniel Blumberg, it's a striking, truly original piece of work with plenty to say about spirituality, persecution and the power of communal experiences. Sirât Release date: Friday 27th February in cinemas Spanish director Óliver Laxe has won rave reviews for this intense drama, which premiered at last year's Cannes Film Festival and follows Luis, a father searching for his daughter in the Moroccan desert, five months after she went missing at a dance festival. The synopsis teases: "As [Luis and his son Esteban] travel from party to party, they hear of a semi-mythical rave near the border of Mauritania. Descending into the scorched terrain as a not-so-distant global conflict encroaches, Luis and Esteban are soon drawn into a primal landscape in which they must walk a tightrope between heaven and hell." 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 films released in the UK this month: January 2026
Highlights include Hamnet, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and Is This Thing On?
January is often an interesting time for new film releases – with a combination of both major awards hopefuls that were released across the Atlantic at the end of the previous year, and some more low-brow genre fare. That's very much the case again this year. There are no shortage of options when it comes to the former category – with the likes of Hannet, No Other Choice and Is This Thing On? arriving throughout the month – while those looking for a nice dose of escapism might enjoy Chris Pratt tech-thriller Mercy and Jason Statham actioner Shelter. Meanwhile, other notable releases include a pair of sports dramas that focus on the relationships between two sporting icons and their coaches. Giant explores the dynamic between legendary boxer Prince Naseem Hamed (Amir El-Masry) and coach Brendan Ingle (Pierce Brosnan), while Saipan dramatises the bitter fallout between footballing great Roy Keane (Éanna Hardwicke) and his international manager Mick McCarthy (Steve Coogan). But perhaps the most exciting new release of the month is 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple – which will tantalisingly pick up where the previous film left off just a few months ago. We can't wait to see how it develops. To help you pick out the highlights, we've put together a selection of some of the best films to watch this month – check out the video above or read on for our choices. Best films released in the UK this month: January 2026 Hamnet Release date: Friday 9th January in cinemas Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal lead the cast of this adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's novel, which explores how a personal tragedy and the resulting grief propelled William Shakespeare to write his iconic masterpiece Hamlet. The film has won rave reviews for its emotional resonance and is expected to be a major player throughout the ongoing awards season, with Buckley in particular a frontrunner to win the Oscar for Best Actress. Giant Release date: Friday 9th January in cinemas This sports drama about the career of pioneering but often controversial boxer Prince Naseem stars Amir El-Masry in the lead role, while Pierce Brosnan plays his long-time coach Brendan Ingle. The film charts Naseem's journey from child prodigy to world champion through the lens of his relationship with Brendan, showing many of the obstacles he had to overcome while also exploring the reasons he became such a divisive figure. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Release date: Wednesday 14th January in cinemas Just a few months after the previous film, we're back in the post-apocalyptic world of 28 Years Later with this sequel from Nia DaCosta – who takes over directorial duties from Danny Boyle, with Alex Garland once again writing the script. The sequel will pick up from the dramatic finale of the previous film – which saw Jack O'Connell introduced as chilling Jimmy Savile-styled cult leader Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal – and it is also set to briefly reintroduce Cillian Murphy's character from the very first film ahead of the now confirmed third instalment in this trilogy. Rental Family Release date: Friday 16th January in cinemas Brendan Fraser has won a great deal of acclaim for his turn in this drama about an actor who finds an unusual gig in Japan – where he is tasked with playing stand-in roles for strangers and rediscovers the "quiet beauty of human connection" in the process. The film is the second feature by Japanese actress-turned-director Hikari, who has also previously helmed episodes of TV shows Beef and Tokyo Vice. No Other Choice Release date: Friday 23rd January in cinemas The latest film from master South Korean director Park Chan-wook is a razor-sharp satire about the state of 21st century capitalism, starring Squid Games' Lee Byung-hun. It follows his character after he is abruptly made redundant from the company where he has worked for 25 years, which prompts him to devise a very extreme plan to ensure he can find employment. Saipan Release date: Friday 23rd January in cinemas This sports film is a dramatisation of the infamous falling out between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy at a training camp on the titular island on the eve of the 2002 World Cup – a row which had massive repercussions for Irish football. Steve Coogan plays manager McCarthy, while The Sixth Commandment star Éanna Hardwicke takes on the role of Manchester United legend Keane, whose disciplined drive is at odds with what he considers to be the sub-par standards of his boss. The History of Sound Release date: Friday 23rd January in cinemas Paul Mescal stars alongside Josh O'Connor in this period romance about the loving relationship between two men in the aftermath of World War I, as they travel around Maine and record folk songs sung by their countrymen. The film – which premiered at last year's Cannes Film Festival – is directed by Living's Oliver Hermanus, with a script by American Ben Shattuck – who adapted it from a pair of his own short stories. H Is for Hawk Release date: Friday 23rd January in cinemas An adaptation of Helen MacDonald's 2014 memoir of the same name, this drama stars Claire Foy as a woman who tends to a goshawk after the death of her father – and finds herself renewed by the unlikely friendship. Alongside Foy, the cast includes roles for Brendan Gleeson, Sam Spruell and Denise Gough, while Philippa Lowthorpe directs from a script she co-wrote with Room scribe Emma Donoghue. Mercy Release date: Friday 23rd January in cinemas Rebecca Ferguson stars as an AI judge putting Chris Pratt's accused murderer on trial in this near-future tech thriller from director Timur Bekmambetov. Pratt's character – an LA detective – is given just 90 minutes to prove that he is not responsible for the murder of his wife (played by Peaky Blinders star Annabelle Wallis), and if he fails he will be executed on the spot. Is This Thing On? Release date: Friday 30th January in cinemas Bradley Cooper's latest directorial feature boasts an unlikely source material: the story of how John Bishop became a comedian. Will Arnett stars as the Bishop surrogate Alex Novak, a middle-aged stand-up who finds new purpose in the New York comedy scene. The star-studded cast also includes roles for Cooper himself alongside Laura Dern, Andra Day and Amy Seadris. Nouvelle Vague Release date: Friday 30th January in cinemas Richard Linklater's new comedy-drama – his second film in just a few months after last year's Blue Moon – explores the making of Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless, one of the most vital films in the French New Wave movement. Relatively unknown French actor Guillaume Marbeck has the lead role as Godard, while there are also key parts for Zoey Deutch as Jean Seberg and Aubry Dullin as Jean-Paul Belmondo. Shelter Release date: Friday 30th January in cinemas Jason Statham leads this action thriller about an exiled former assassin who rescues a young girl from a deadly storm on a remote island and soon finds his life intertwined with hers as his enemies reappear on the scene. The film also boasts a stellar supporting cast, with roles for Bill Nighy, Naomi Ackie and Daniel Mays alongside newcomer Bodhi Rae Breathnach. 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 new films of 2026: 26 movies to look forward to
It looks like being another brilliant 12 months of cinema – here are some of our most hotly anticipated films.
Lat year gifted us with a huge range of wonderful new films – from horror hits Sinners and Weapons to genre-defying epics likes Marty Supreme and One Battle After Another – and it looks like 2026 will be stuffed with plenty more cinematic treats. As is often the case, the first couple of months will see UK fans afforded the chance to see some major films that debuted in the US towards the end of last year, with Hamnet, The Secret Agent and The Testament of Ann Lee among the big hitters to look out for in January and February. That should set the tone for a 2026 slate that includes new films from legendary directors such as Christopher Nolan and Steven Spielberg, a range of franchise blockbusters such as Dune: Part Three and the latest Avengers movie, and a few films that seem destined to get people talking – like Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Wuthering Heights. Do bear in mind that we've kept this list to films that already have confirmed UK release dates. There will be plenty more major films added to the schedule in due course, with David Fincher, Robert Eggers, Greta Gerwig, Joel Coen and Luca Guadagnino among the big-name directors with films in the pipeline that will most likely debut at prestigious film festivals throughout the year. And obviously, this list is not definitive. There's also a great variety of other films that debuted at festivals last year – including If I Had Legs I'd Kick You and Splitsville – in addition to horror sequels and reboots such as Evil Dead: Burn, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come and Resident Evil, the latter of which is interestingly helmed by Weapons director Zach Cregger. There are also new films from genre directors including Sam Raimi (Send Help), M Night Shyamalan (Remain) and Rob Savage (The Other Mommy) plus a raft of family titles including The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Disney's Hexed and the live action remake of Moana. And as ever, for all that we can make predictions, a great joy every year is the fact that many under-the-radar films come from seemingly nowhere to completely surprise us. Maybe the best film of 2026 is completely unknown to us at this stage! But for now, read on for 26 films that we're especially excited about in 2026. 1. Hamnet View Green Video on the source website UK release date: Friday 9th January 2026 Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal lead the cast of Chloé Zhao's awards-tipped adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's acclaimed novel, which explores how a personal tragedy and the resulting grief propelled William Shakespeare to write his iconic masterpiece Hamlet. RT says: This adaptation has won rave reviews from critics – including a glowing 5-star verdict from us – and is being positioned as a major awards contender, with Jessie Buckley's performance as Agnes being singled our for praise. But be warned: the story is an emotionally devastating one, so you may want to come armed with tissues. 2. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple UK release date: Friday 16th January 2026 Less than a year after the previous film ended with a tantalising tease of what was to come, we return to the world of 28 Years Later with this sequel, which sees Hedda's Nia DaCosta take over directorial duties from Danny Boyle. It's the second chapter in what has now been confirmed as a trilogy. RT says: 28 Years Later was one of the real cinematic success stories of 2025, so it's exciting to be treated to this sequel so soon afterwards. It will be fascinating to see how DaCosta builds on the all-action ending to the previous film, which introduced Jack O'Connell as chilling Jimmy Savile-styled cult leader Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal – the ingredients are undoubtedly all there for another triumph. 3. No Other Choice UK release date: Friday 23rd January 2026 Esteemed South Korean director Park Chan-wook's latest film is a pointed satire with a tragicomic edge, starring Squid Game's Lee Byung-hun as a desperate man who goes to very extreme lengths to find a new job after being laid off by the firm where he's worked for 25 years. RT says: Director Park has consistently been one of the finest visual stylists in contemporary cinema, and this latest marvel is no different. The film is a timely – and often hilarious – satire on the state of 21st century capitalism, with some marvellous, often violent, set pieces scattered throughout the runtime. 4. Wuthering Heights View Green Video on the source website UK release date: Friday 13th February 2026 Emily Bronté's iconic work of gothic fiction has been adapted for the big screen on several previous occasions, and now Saltburn and Promising Young Woman director Emerald Fennell delivers a new take on the source material, with Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi starring as her Cathy and Heathcliff. RT says: Even before its release, this seems guaranteed to be one of the most talked about releases of 2026, with reactions to the casting and trailer already proving divisive to say the least. If Fennel's previous output is taken into account, we can guarantee one thing: it certainly won't be boring. 5. The Testament of Ann Lee UK release date: Friday 20th February 2026 Amanda Seyfried plays the title role in Mona Fastvold's spellbinding musical based on a true story, which explores how Manchester-born Ann Lee founded the radical, revolutionary religious sect known as the Shakers in the 18th century, building up a devoted following while trying to avoid persecution. RT says: This masterful, truly original piece of cinema has been curiously absent from many awards nominations, but make no mistake – it's one of the finest films to debut in recent years. Every single aspect – from the committed performances and richly detailed production design to the stirring music and breathtaking choreography – combine to create something unique, captivating and profound. Don't miss it. 6. The Secret Agent View Green Video on the source website UK release date: Friday 20th February 2026 This latest film from Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho stars Narcos's Wagner Moura as a professor who finds himself embroiled in the political turmoil of 1970s Brazil, fleeing persecution against the backdrop of the country's military dictatorship. RT says: Wagner Moura took home the Best Actor award at last year's Cannes Film Festival for his lead performance in this film, and its acclaim has only grown since – emerging as a frontrunner for the Best International Feature Oscar. Expect a tense and layered drama which will leave you with plenty to chew on. 7. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man UK release date: Friday 6th March 2026 Three years after the TV show ended its original run, creator Steven Knight is bringing his immensely popular Birmingham-set gangster saga to the big screen, with Barry Keoghan, Rebecca Ferguson and Tim Roth among the starry names joining Cillian Murphy in the cast. It will have a limited theatrical run before being added to Netflix. RT says: If you're a fan of the TV show, then you probably won't need much convincing to tune into this one. We can expect more of what we're used to from Knight's series alongside an added cinematic grandeur – while it may also sow the seeds for the recently announced sequel show. 8. The Bride UK release date: Friday 6th March 2026 Maggie Gyllenhaal writes and directs this new monster movie which is inspired by the 1935 classic The Bride of Frankenstein, with Jessie Buckley starring in the title role and Christian Bale playing Frankenstein's Monster. Penélope Cruz, Annette Bening and Maggie's brother Jake Gyllenhaal also appear in the cast. The film had initially been on 2025's release but has now shifted to this year. RT says: We're living in a great era for reimaginings of classic monster movies – with Nosferatu and Frankenstein two key recent examples – and Gyllenhaal's take on the The Bride of Frankenstein certainly looks eye-catching, not to mention pleasingly eccentric. Let's hope it delivers on that promise. 9. Project Hail Mary UK release date: Friday 20th March 2026 Ryan Gosling leads this sci-fi adaptation from directing pair Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, based on Andy Weir's 2021 novel of the same name about an astronaut who awakens from a coma with no memory of the mission he'd been sent on. Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce and Ken Leung also star. RT says: There's a lot of early hype for this film, with reports of rapturous responses at test screenings last year. Let's hope it can set the scene for what looks like being a big year for non-franchise sci-fi fare. 10. The Dog Stars UK release date: Friday 27th March 2026 The ever-prolific Sir Ridley Scott returns with this star-studded post-apocalyptic thriller following a civilian pilot (Jacob Elordi) and a tough ex-marine (Josh Brolin) who face struggles in the aftermath of a flu virus that nearly wiped out humanity. Margaret Qualley and Guy Pearce also star. RT says: Scott has never exactly been shy when it comes to singing his own praises, and the veteran filmmaker has already labelled his latest effort "maybe my best movie". Given his filmography includes such all-time classics as Alien and Blade Runner, that certainly makes it seems worth a watch, especially when we bear in mind the impressive cast. 11. The Magic Faraway Tree UK release date: Friday 27th March 2026 Enid Blyton's iconic children's book about a magical tree has been adapted for the big screen by Ghosts star Simon Farnaby, with Claire Foy, Andrew Garfield and Nicola Coughlan just three of the big names in its impressive cast list. RT says: If you're after something for the whole family, this certainly has all the makings of a pleasantly nostalgic treat – with the revered source material being adapted by a man with a proven track record for penning family-friendly delights in the shape of the Paddington movies and Wonka. 12. The Drama UK release date: Friday 3rd April 2026 Robert Pattinson and Zendaya play a newly engaged couple in this intriguing drama from Dream Scenario writer/director Kristoffer Borgli – with not much officially revealed about the plot beyond the fact that one of the pair discovers an unsettling truth about the other. RT says: As if the two leads weren't reason enough to put this film on our most-anticipated list, the mysterious nature of the plot has only piqued our curiosity further. Borgli announced himself as a quirky filmmaker to watch with Dream Scenario, and early reports suggest this could be a step up. 13. Michael View Green Video on the source website UK release date: Friday 24th April 2026 Antoine Fuqua directs this Michael Jackson biopic, which promises to "humanise but not sanitise" the story of the King of Pop. He will be played in the film by his nephew Jaafar Jackson, while Colman Domingo, Miles Teller and Laura Harrier are among the other stars. The film was originally set for release last year, but was delayed after reshoots. RT says: Given the hugely controversial nature of Jackson's legacy, there's no doubt this will be a film that kick-stars all sorts of conversations. The film was made with the involvement of the subject's family, so it remains to be seen if this will truly be the warts-and-all portrait many will be hoping for, but it's certainly worth keeping an eye on. 14. The Devil Wears Prada 2 UK release date: Friday 1st May 2026 Two decades after the first film became one of the most quotable movies of the 21st century, original cast members Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci all reprise their roles in this sequel, with Sir Kenneth Branagh, Simone Ashley and Lucy Liu among the new faces in the cast. RT says: A legacy sequel to one of the most beloved comedies of the 21st century with its iconic cast all returning – need we say more? It will be interesting to see how the characters have adapted to a fashion industry and a press climate very different to the one glimpsed in the previous film. 15. The Mandalorian and Grogu UK release date: Friday 22nd May 2026 The first new Star Wars film since the Skywalker saga concluded with 2019's poorly received The Rise of Skywalker, this is a spin-off from popular Disney+ series The Mandalorian and will serve as a continuation of that story, with Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White joining Pedro Pascal in the cast. RT says: With the exception of the quite rightly glowing reviews for Andor, the Star Wars franchise hasn't exactly enjoyed the most plain-sailing time of late, and there's some scepticism as to whether this film can put the big-screen future of the sci-fi juggernaut back on track. Can it prove the doubters wrong? 16. Disclosure Day UK release date: Friday 12th June 2026 Steven Spielberg returns to the theme of UFOs and extra-terrestrial life in this sci-fi blockbuster, which stars Josh O'Connor, Emily Blunt and Colin Firth. The cryptic logline reads: "If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you?" RT says: It's been a long time since Spielberg embraced the sci-fi genre, but his record speaks for itself – and if this can even get close to the level of Close Encounters of the Third Kind and ET then we'll have another masterpiece on our hands. With a stellar cast and an intriguing trailer, the early signs are promising. 17. Toy Story 5 View Green Video on the source website UK release date: Friday 19th June 2026 Pixar returns to arguably its best-loved property with a fifth film focusing on Woody, Buzz and co – which will see them go head-to-head with a new threat to playtime: a frog-like tablet named Lilypad, voiced by Greta Lee. RT says: Pixar's recent focus on sequels has proven popular at the box office, even if the critical reception hasn't quite matched the highs of the animation studio's early days – but it's hard not to be excited about a return to the world of the beloved living toys. Lets hope the story is worthy of such fine characters. 18. Supergirl UK release date: Friday 26th June 2026 The second film in James Gunn's relaunched DC Universe sees Milly Alcock take centre stage as Supergirl after a brief cameo at the end of last year's Superman, and will follow her as she travels across the galaxy on a murderous quest for revenge. Cruella's Craig Gillespie is on directorial duties. RT says: Superman set the stage for the new DC Universe last year and it will be interesting to see how this follow-up builds on that momentum. Alcock has already proven she's a charismatic presence – especially with her turn as a young Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon – and this could well launch her to proper movie stardom. 19. The Odyssey UK release date: Friday 17th July 2026 Christopher Nolan follows up his hugely acclaimed, Oscar-winning Oppenheimer with a very different sort of epic – an ambitious adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey. The mammoth cast is headlined by Matt Damon, while Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattinson are some of the other A-listers with key roles. RT says: All eyes were going to be on Nolan whatever he chose to do after the monumental success of Oppenheimer – and he's certainly not resting on his laurels. With impeccable source material, one of the best casts assembled in years and a writer/director clearly at the top of his game, this seems like a surefire hit if ever there was one. 20. Spider-Man: Brand New Day UK release date: Friday 31st July 2026 The first of two major MCU releases in 2026 – as the mega superhero franchise attempts to get back on track – is the fourth solo outing for Tom Holland's Spidey. After the multiverse shenanigans of 2021's No Way Home, this is expected to start a new arc for the character, with Stranger Things star Sadie Sink a major addition to the cast. RT says: Realistically, No Way Home was the last time an MCU entry really captured the imagination of the cinema-going public, and the webslinger's popularity seems unassailable even as the general appetite for the franchise has waned. With that in mind, this is the best hope yet for a return to the massive box office numbers that were once routine for Marvel. 21. Flowervale Street UK release date: Friday 14th August 2026 It Follows director David Robert Mitchell makes his first film since 2018's Under the Silver Lake with this sci-fi thriller starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor. According to official plot details, it will follow a family who start to notice unusual happenings in their neighbourhood – and there are strong rumours that time travel could be involved. RT says: After bursting onto the scene with his terrific chiller It Follows in 2014, David Robert Mitchell's stock was high – but the divisive reaction to his 2018 follow-up Under the Silver Lake somewhat dampened his reputation. This is his first effort since, and hopes are high that it could be a treat as we wait for more concrete details about the cryptic plot. 22. Digger UK release date: Friday 2nd October 2026 Tom Cruise has the lead role in this black comedy from two-time Oscar-winning Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman, The Revenant). Plot details are being kept firmly under wraps, but we know there's room in the supporting cast for Jesse Plemons, Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, Michael Stuhlbarg and Riz Ahmed, among others. RT says: After the last Mission: Impossible film, Tom Cruise has expressed a desire to move away from action and into more of the character-led, director-driven dramas that marked his earlier career. This is the first example of this new plan, and while much is still under wraps it certainly seems like a fascinating proposition. 23. The Social Reckoning UK release date: Friday 9th October 2026 Jeremy Allen White takes over from Jesse Eisenberg as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in this follow-up to The Social Network. The focus this time around is the 2021 Facebook leak, with Aaron Sorkin again penning the script – in addition to taking over from David Fincher as director. RT says: The Social Network is one of the most acclaimed films of the 21st century, and although much of its brilliance has been attributed to Fincher's direction, Sorkin's script was also first-rate. Can lightning strike twice? 24. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping UK release date: Friday 20th November 2026 The latest entry in the dystopian saga is based on prequel novel Sunrise on the Reaping, which follows a young Haymitch Abernathy after he is selected to compete in the 50th Hunger Games. Whitney Peak and Joseph Zada play the young leads, while Jesse Plemons, Ralph Fiennes, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Mckenna Grace and Glenn Close are among the established names in the cast. RT says: If you're a Hunger Games fan, this film can't come soon enough – and indeed the movie was confirmed even before Suzanne Collins's novel had been published. With such a great cast – including the promise of cameos from original stars Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson – and the reliable direction of franchise stalwart Francis Lawrence, this seems guaranteed to please long-term fans. 25. Avengers: Doomsday UK release date: Friday 18th December 2026 The first Avengers movie since Endgame in 2019 features several high-profile returns: Joe and Anthony Russo are back behind the camera, Chris Evans will make a surprise return as Steve Rogers, and former Tony Stark actor Robert Downey Jr stars in his new role as villain Doctor Doom – whom the Avengers, Wakandans, Fantastic Four, New Avengers and "original" X-Men will team up to fight. RT says: It seems that almost every new Marvel release in the last couple of years has been pitched as a possible turning point back to the success of earlier instalments, and that's never been the case more than with this upcoming team-up movie. Will it be the beginning of a second wind, or the death knell of an ailing franchise? 26. Dune: Part Three UK release date: Friday 18th December 2026 Denis Villeneuve wraps up his Dune trilogy with this third instalment, which is based on Frank Herbert's sequel novel Dune: Messiah. Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Anya Taylor-Joy, Josh Brolin and Rebecca Ferguson are all back, while Robert Pattinson is the highest profile new addition to the cast. RT says: Given what Denis Villeneuve accomplished with the first two Dune films, it seems safe to assume we can expect another magnificent slice of sci-fi this time around, even if the source material is rather more muted. With Chalamet's Oscar-tipped turn in Marty Supreme proving once and for all that he's the real deal as a movie star, let's hope this is the crowning jewel in one of the best movie trilogies of modern times. 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.
2025’s 25 best new movies - from Frankenstein to Sinners
Our rundown of the best new film releases of 2025.
It's been another excellent year for new film releases in the UK – and as you can see from our top 25 below, a very eclectic one too. As ever, the year started with some great awards contenders that had debuted across the Atlantic at the tail end of 2024 – with the likes of The Brutalist, Nickel Boys and A Real Pain all featuring highly on our list. Meanwhile, it's also been a spectacular year when it comes to horror, with first Sinners and then Weapons capturing the imaginations of the cinema-going public with bold, original takes on the genre, before Guillermo del Toro delivered his version of one of the most iconic of all horror tales: Frankenstein. It's perhaps been a slightly less memorable year when it comes to the biggest blockbusters, but we do have at least one franchise film in our list as well: the fourth entry in the Bridget Jones franchise. Plus there are all sorts of great international films, independent gems and unexpected hits, so prepare to add a film or two to your watchlists. But what came in at number one? Scroll down our list to find out. 25. The Seed of the Sacred Fig This political thriller from Iranian writer/director Mohammad Rasoulof was made in secret, with its 2024 premiere leading to his arrest and eventual exile abroad. Set during the 2022 mass protests against the government, Rasoulof's impressive allegorical drama begins with Tehran lawyer Iman (Missagh Zareh) promoted to investigating judge, pleasing his loyal wife (Soheila Golestani) and two daughters. But the violent unrest on the streets soon renders Iman little more than a rubber stamp for swift draconian punishment, demoralising him and horrifying his offspring who begin to question his actions, especially after a female friend is shot and injured by police. The fraying of family relations is a slow-burning, claustrophobic and yet beautifully modulated affair, punctuated by visceral real-life news footage of the protests and subsequent police brutality. However, when Iman’s government handgun goes missing, suspicion, mistrust and paranoia take over, threatening the women and leading to a riveting denouement in the desert worthy of many a top thriller. – Jeremy Aspinall, Freelance Reviewer 24. Dreams (Oslo Stories Trilogy) There’s something delicate in the craft of this unique Norwegian drama, which follows a 17-year-old girl named Johanne (Ella Øverbye) who becomes increasingly besotted with her new teacher – an experience that soon begins to disrupt the relationship between Johanne, her mother and her grandmother. The second part of Dag Johan Haugerud’s Oslo Stories trilogy, exploring the intricacies of human relationships, Dreams is gentle-handed and non-judgmental in its examination of Johanne’s vulnerability, and in the shifting relationship dynamics that shape her throughout the course of the film. Powerful in both its writing and direction, this is a literary-infused, emotionally rich coming-of-age story that settles inside a quiet area of the human experience. – Chezelle Bingham, Sub-Editor 23. Frankenstein View Green Video on the source website "Frankenstein is a film — and a tale — that touches the very essence of what I am and all that I believe in," director Guillermo del Toro told the BFI back in 2012, with his long-awaited adaptation of Mary Shelley's gothic classic finally reaching audiences some thirteen years later. While some passion projects can be desperate vanity escapades, this one is far more triumphant, with Del Toro using his decades of genre eccentricities to create a tale as grotesque as it is poignant. Chiseled Hollywood star Jacob Elordi dons heavy white makeup to portray Frankenstein's iconic monster and does so with enough subtlety to carry the emotional heart of the film, chasing his estranged father figure (Oscar Isaac) across the globe to demand a reason for his forsaken existence. It’s a fleshy and absorbing tale accentuated by terrific performances from a dedicated ensemble cast and an inviting world of grandeur that will have you wanting to stay for longer than just 149 minutes. – Calum Russell, Sub-Editor 22. Bring Her Back It seems that with every year, horror films just continue to raise the bar – and with their sophomore feature Bring Her Back, directors Danny and Michael Philippou created yet another terrifying hit. Sally Hawkins is brilliant as Laura, an emotionally intense foster mother who takes on newly-orphaned kids Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper (Sora Wong). The duo manage to settle into their new home despite Laura’s unusual, unhinged behaviours, but it doesn’t take long for Andy and Piper to discover darker secrets behind her eccentric persona, as well as the reality concerning the alarming presence of new foster brother Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips). Certainly a film that is much more effective if you know nothing about it going in, Bring Her Back is a gory, unsettling domestic horror that successfully builds nail-biting, demonic tension and terminates in a satisfying, emotional conclusion without having to rely solely on jump scares – though of course, there are still enough of them to have you panicking. It's a film that could easily secure a place on your supernatural horror master list. – CB 21. It Was Just an Accident Jafar Panahi continues his extraordinary career with the superb It Was Just an Accident – a film that earned him both a Palme d’Or Award in Cannes and a prison sentence in his home country of Iran. It tells the story of a mechanic who believes he has found the sadistic guard who tortured him on behalf of the Iranian regime years earlier. Or has he? What follows is an exploration of justice versus vengeance, action versus restraint, and whether you can ever outrun the trauma of the past without ending the cycle of violence for the future. Despite the political fury, there is a searing humanity that runs through the film – the happy couple posing for their wedding photos, the young girl who just wants her father to dance with her, a surprising kindness in extreme circumstances at a hospital. It builds to a ferocious climax punctuated by a final scene that sucks all the air out of the room and leaves you frozen in your seat as the end credits roll by. – Christian Tobin, Production Editor 20. Pillion View Green Video on the source website You might think a BDSM love story in a motorcycle gang is quite niche for a romantic comedy. Still, first-time feature director Harry Leighton makes this so vividly realised and with such humour and heart that it’s possibly one of the most touching films of the year. Adapting the much more tragic novel Box Hill by Adam Mars-Jones, Pillion tells the story of the shy but sweet Colin (a wonderful Harry Melling) who meets the tall, handsome and mysterious biker Ray (Alexander Skarsgård at his most charismatic) and from there enters into a submissive relationship with him and is introduced into a subculture where he discovers fraternity and also truths about his identity. Also watch out for a stunning turn from Lesley Sharp as Colin’s ailing mother, who is willing to be blunt to get the best for her son. It’s also arguably another entry in the alternative Christmas film list. This is moving, hilarious, and subversive. – Lewis Knight, Trends Editor 19. Hard Truths Throughout his career, Mike Leigh has crafted some of the best, most complex portraits of working class life in the history of British cinema, and this latest drama was another slam dunk for the veteran filmmaker. Marianne Jean-Baptiste is in ferocious form as Pansy, a misanthropic woman whose frequent disgruntled outbursts are initially the source of great hilarity for the audience until Leigh gradually makes us feel great empathy for a complicated woman who has been pushed to breaking point. The performances of Baptiste and Michele Austin – who plays Pansy's chipper younger sister Chantelle – complement each other perfectly, and both actors can consider themselves unfortunate not to have been rewarded with Oscar nominations earlier in the year. It's an always engaging, finely nuanced character study that reminds us we don't always know what pains people are hiding. – Patrick Cremona, Senior Film Writer 18. Nosferatu Period horror maestro Robert Eggers returned with his chilling update on the silent movie classic Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922), itself inspired by Bram Stoker’s iconic novel Dracula. Eggers’s film centres the action very much in the psychosexual journey of the lead heroine Ellen Hutter, played by an exemplary Lily-Rose Depp, who feels a psychic connection with the monstrous count from a faraway land. Still, their connection grows ever closer to the physical as her husband ends up in grave danger in the monster’s thrall. Embracing a gothic aesthetic, immense dread, and a truly ghoulish turn from Bill Skarsgård as the titular vampire, Nosferatu is a dark tale of identity, sin, and the pull of destiny. The supporting players are also a treat, particularly the likes of Nicholas Hoult as Ellen’s perennially struggling husband Thomas and a suitably quirky Willem Dafoe as the vampire expert Albin Eberhart von Franz. Intoxicating, chilling, and experiential, just like any good vampire flick should be. – LK 17. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy Oh Bridget! Those are the only words I could utter after watching Mad About the Boy, a beautiful fourth and final outing in the Bridget Jones’s Diary franchise. Not only are you left in a puddle of tears upon realising Mr Darcy is no longer by Bridget’s side, but also you see yourself in Bridget as she tries to find her own feet, whether it be as a single mother juggling a job or finding romance in an unlikely suitor – there’s a version of Bridget in everyone. While there’s a sadness to be felt as the film cements itself as the last time we’ll see our frazzled Bridget, it’s a perfect conclusion to the romantic comedy saga we’ve been treated to over the past two decades. – Katelyn Mensah, Senior Entertainment and Factual Writer 16. Die My Love Jennifer Lawrence immaculately straddles a careful balance between heartbreak and humour in Die My Love, the latest film from Lynne Ramsay, which explores the complexities of motherhood and mental health. Based on the 2012 novel of the same name by Ariana Harwicz, Lawrence stars as Grace, a new mother who has recently moved from New York to rural Montana with her unhelpful partner Jackson (Robert Pattinson). After the birth of her son, Grace’s life begins to unravel – further catalysed by loneliness, boredom and an insufferable barking dog that idle Jackson brings into their home. While perhaps more of a slow-burn than some of the other films on this list, it’s Lawrence's performance that makes this film so completely watchable. She’s deeply sympathetic as a woman on the edge of emotional exhaustion, and partnered with Ramsay’s intimate direction, a perfectly curated soundtrack and a powerful cast that includes the likes of Sissy Spacek and LaKeith Stanfield, Die My Love is a film that is both compelling and passionately crafted. – CB 15. Bugonia View Green Video on the source website There was likely never any doubt that the most recent collaboration between Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos would make it onto this list, with its unpredictable premise, frantic tension and superb performances. An English-language remake of the South Korean film Save the Green Planet, the black comedy sci-fi follows the events that occur when two conspiracy theorist cousins (played by Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis) kidnap a pharmaceutical CEO (Emma Stone) after they become convinced that she’s a member of an alien race known as the Andromedans. What results is 118 minutes of dark hilarity, serious tension and violent paranoia – all while confronting some unfortunately increasingly relevant questions about the state of humanity, and just how far humans will go to prove themselves right. Emma Stone remains a true powerhouse, and is ably supported by the strengths of Plemons and Delbis’s grease-covered cousins Teddy and Donny, as well as the surreal, trademark characteristics of any Lanthimos feature. With a divisive final sequence that will leave you reeling, if slightly perplexed, Bugonia warns us all of the dangers of going too far down the rabbit hole. – CB 14. On Falling Laura Carreira captures the eroding human spirit of an exploited gig economy worker with Loachian precision in her excellent debut feature. Holding a mirror up to one of society's most forgotten realities, On Falling tells the story of Aurora (Joana Santos), a Portuguese worker in a Scottish warehouse who tries to find fulfilment and human connection in a job that strips individuals of agency. It’s by no means an easy film to sit through, with Carreira confronting the cold realities such jobs present for their workers. Yet, amidst the haunting bleakness, a tender tale unfolds that quite beautifully illustrates the pain of quietly repressing what it means to be human. In one of the year’s most quietly devastating performances, Santos bottles a vacant anguish that is utterly heart-wrenching to see steadily surface. – CR 13. Dying This blacky comic German melodrama explores the fraught dynamics of a dysfunctional family. Elderly parents Lissy and Gerd have been diagnosed with cancer and dementia respectively, while their adult children are too preoccupied with their own problems to offer much support. Conductor Tom is immersed in rehearsals for the premiere of an orchestral work named Dying, and is about to become a co-parent, while his estranged sister Ellen is prone to alcohol binges. Despite its various deaths, Matthias Glasner’s powerfully acted film beautifully fuses the tragic and the comic in its engaging portrayal of characters stumbling through the messiness of their lives. – Tom Dawson, Freelance Reviewer 12. The Long Walk Not every recent Stephen King adaptation has been especially well-received, but The Long Walk smashed all expectations. The film follows 50 boys partaking in a twisted walking marathon in which they must march at a pace of three miles per hour or die. The desperation to survive is portrayed so effortlessly by each young boy, from Arthur’s (Tut Nyuot) devastating final wish for his grandmother, to the painful loss of Hank (Ben Wang). But the true stars of this movie are David Jonsson and Cooper Hoffman, whose characters forge an unlikely friendship which is only the more impactful upon the realisation only one of them can survive. It’s the pair’s chemistry that truly makes the film, as you find yourself rooting for both of them to succeed, and increasingly feel as if you are on this dire walk alongside them. – KM 11. Sorry, Baby View Green Video on the source website The directorial debut of comedy writer Eva Victor, this is a sensitive, melancholic but ultimately life-affirming film that finds a delicate balance between pain and humour in the aftermath of a deeply traumatic incident. Victor stars in the lead role of Agnes, a high-achieving academic whose life is upended when she is sexually assaulted by her supervisor, with the film unfolding across various chapters as she slowly attempts to rebuild her life while confronting the numerous ways in which it has been forever changed. The film wisely avoids showing the incident of violence – which is referred to throughout only as The Bad Thing – and is all the more powerful for it, while as the narrative progresses there are a number of beautifully written interactions as Agnes navigates the difficult emotional complexities of her new life. The supporting cast, including Naomi Ackie as Agnes's empathetic, supportive best friend and Lucas Hedges as her affable neighbour and later lover, add plenty of warmth, and the film also includes perhaps the finest cat of 2025's cinema slate. – PC 10. Nickel Boys This audacious Oscar-nominated adaptation of Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer prize-winning novel is an original work of heart-wrenching power. Adopting an innovative point-of-view visual approach, direcrer RaMell Ross telsl the story of Elwood Curtis (Ethan Herisse), an African-American teenager who is wrongly implicated in a car theft and sent to a racially segregated reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida. While there, he strikes up a bond with the quietly rebellious Turner (Brandon Wilson) and tries desperately to search for hope and salvation against a backdrop of unbearable brutality. The unique shooting style takes some adjusting to, but quickly draws the viewer under its spell, creating a tactile and profoundly immersive experience punctuated by some deeply harrowing scenes. Meanwhile, Ross also adds several impressionistic flourishes and makes innovative use of archival footage and well-placed flash-forwards, leading to an astounding montage in the closing scenes. Both leads are fantastic, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is remarkable in a supporting role as Elwood's grandmother, shining in some of the film's most raw and affecting moments. – PC 9. Marty Supreme The kinetic and chaotic Marty Supreme centres on ping pong prodigy Marty Mauser, and bounces appropriately enough back and forth from one exhilarating scene to another at a mile a minute. Small sub-plots snowball into major narrative drivers as Marty’s relentless pursuit of glory sees all those around him caught in his whirlwind – for better and (frequently) for worse. There are standout supporting turns from Odessa A'zion and Gwyneth Paltrow who extract every last drop of screwball farce from Josh Safdie’s go-for-broke script, while a smart use of '80s music signposts that for all his faults, Marty is a man ahead of his time. Much like its central figure, the film is exhausting, provocative and undeniably brilliant. But the real star of the show is of course Timothée Chalamet, in his best performance to date. The Dune and Wonka actor made headlines at this year’s SAG Awards when he declared that he wants to be "one of the greats". With Marty Supreme under his belt, he’s already well on his way. – CT 8. 28 Years Later In the years since Danny Boyle and Alex Garland unleashed 28 Days Later on cinema-goers, zombies (or zombie equivalents) have become ten-a-penny, from The Walking Dead to The Last of Us. So why resurrect a franchise that looked firmly six feet under? 28 Years Later answers that question beautifully. Yes, there’s spinal cord-ripping carnage, but the focus here is on a fractured Britain looking to rebuild its identity and rewrite its own mythology in a post-post-apocalypse, where society bears more resemblance to the grotesque Slow-Lows that crawl along the ground than the imposing Alpha variants that rule the horizon. At the heart of it is an excellent Alfie Williams as young Spike, whose notion of heroism is upended as the film moves from fantastical horror to something all the more recognisable and devastating – before pulling the rug again with a truly gonzo ending. With hotly tipped sequel The Bone Temple arriving in January, and reports of a third movie in active development, the 28 Years series still has plenty of room yet to rage against the dying of the light. – CT 7. A Real Pain Jesse Eisenberg screenwriting and directorial debut When You Finish Saving the World may have divided audiences, but he managed to hit a home-run with this Oscar-winning comedy-drama. The script, about two cousins on a Jewish heritage tour through Poland, feels both deeply personal and also profoundly universal. The characters, both Eisenberg’s Benji and Kieran Culkin’s David, are exceptionally well-drawn – if you don’t feel like you know one of these people, then chances are you are one of these people. David also feels like the role Culkin was born to play, and the fact that Eisenberg didn’t write it with the actor already firmly in mind is baffling. While the film has big things on its mind, and delves into some weighty topics, the darkness never threatens to overwhelm the light and vice versa. There are some big laughs here, not just courtesy of the central duo, but also thanks to the supporting cast, including an excellent turn from Will Sharpe. – James Hibbs, Drama Writer 6. Train Dreams Joel Edgerton is God’s Lonely Man in Clint Bentley’s adaptation of Denis Johnson’s epic novella of the same name, which delicately tells the tale of an American railroad labourer grappling with life’s most existential questions. A quiet, introspective soul, Robert Grainier (Edgerton) finds contentment when he starts a family with fellow wholesome soul Gladys (Felicity Jones), only for his life to be upended by tragedy. What follows is an absorbing and pensive examination of what it means to be human in a world of wild devastation. Terrence Malick-like in its execution, Bentley harnesses the beauty of the natural world to punctuate his tale, coaxing you into the world of the film with some of the year’s most gorgeous cinematography. Powerful and succinct, Train Dreams is a pocket-sized ballad to the wonder of the everyday. – CR 5. The Ballad of Wallis Island View Green Video on the source website Every year, film fans prep their calendars with what they want to see, and already have in their mind’s eye an idea of what the biggest hits will be, the ones that will top their best of lists come December. Every year, those lists are upended by some true surprises, with one of 2025’s biggest being The Ballad of Wallis Island. This charming, funny, heartfelt film written by and starring Tom Basden and Tim Key, alongside Carey Mulligan, has a simple set-up, following a lottery winner who tries to reunite his favourite folk duo for a one-off, personal concert. It's a set-up which allows the character interactions space to breathe and Key’s winning comedic performance to shine through, and despite being set entirely on one small island, and featuring only a handful of characters, it never outstays its welcome, clocking in at a perfect 100 minutes. It also boasts one of the strongest, most ear-worm filled soundtracks of the year, meaning you will truly believe that McWyer Mortimer could have the hold on Key’s Charles that they do. Expect to laugh, well-up and tap your foot throughout, and even for long after – this is the type of film that stays with you. - JH 4. Weapons Writer/director Zach Cregger followed up his 2022 horror hit Barbarian with this unnerving and thunderously entertaining horror epic, which follows events in the aftermath of a deeply troubling incident in a suburban US town: one night, without explanation, all but one student in the third-grade class of a new teacher (Julia Garner) vanished from their homes. Divulging further plot details would severely dampen the viewing experience, but the non-linear structure employed by Cregger – who unspools the narrative from six different perspectives – allows the film to explore the complex ways people's psyches are affected by broken communities, traumatic events and surrounding public storms. Each chapter gradually teases more information about the bizarre events engulfing the town, resulting in a propulsive, perfectly-paced thriller that leaves things tantalisingly mysterious until a superb late reveal that introduces an instantly iconic villain. Of course, there are frights aplenty, with Cregger tapping into nightmarish, fairytale-esque imagery, but also no shortage of evidence of the director's comedic roots. It's the deft way in which he juggles those tones that made Weapons such a refreshing triumph. – PC 3. The Brutalist Director Brady Corbet helms another epic piece of cinema with this (ahem) brutal take on the American Dream. Anchored by a stunning turn from Adrien Brody as traumatised Hungarian-Jewish Holocaust survivor and architect László Tóth, who comes to the US seeking a better life for himself and his family but faces trials and tribulations – mostly at the hands of self-serving industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren (a brilliantly underplayed Guy Pearce). There is absolutely moving work too from the still (somehow) criminally underrated Felicity Jones as Erzsébet Tóth, László’s wife, whom he reunites with during the film after the years of wickedness they have both experienced. This beast of a film gives scale, scope and sadness, with gorgeous cinematography from Lol Crawley and a stirring score from Daniel Blumberg. Ultimately, Corbet remains a true auteur, and we can only wait in anticipation for what he has up his sleeve next. – LK 2. One Battle After Another A new Paul Thomas Anderson film is always something to get excited for, yet despite the variety of the writer-director’s back catalogue, I don’t think anyone could have quite expected what he delivered here. A loose adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel Vineland, One Battle After Another is both a incredibly specific, one-of-a-kind picture from an auteur filmmaker, yet it’s also a genuinely propulsive, thrilling action movie, able to captivate all manner of film fans. The cast are all on top form here, whether it’s Leonardo DiCaprio carrying the weight of the narrative on his back, Chase Infiniti stealing scenes left, right and centre, Benicio Del Toro bringing the laughs or Sean Penn giving us one of the most profoundly unsettling villains of recent years. Meanwhile, Anderson truly delivers the goods, with breathtakingly staged, pulse-racing action, visually sumptuous sequences, impressive pacing across all 162 minutes and a superb team behind him all the way, including cinematographer Michael Bauman and composer Jonny Greenwood. – JH 1. Sinners View Green Video on the source website Sinners is yet another masterful outing from Ryan Coogler, following twin brothers Smoke and Stack (Michael B Jordan) on their return to their Mississippi hometown to rebuild their lives; only, something far darker awaits them. Shot entirely in both IMAX and Ultra Panavision cameras, the movie is spectacularly captured, particularly the Juke Joint dance scene which should rightfully go down in history as one of the most beautifully crafted scenes in cinema. Ludwig Göransson’s score effortlessly blends Irish folk music with the blues, providing a soundtrack to oppression intertwined with freedom, as each character runs away from the troubles of their everyday lives to be free, even if it’s just for one night. – KM The following writers submitted lists for this poll: Jeremy Aspinall, Calum Baker, Chezelle Bingham, Max Copeman, Patrick Cremona, Tom Dawson, Darcy Giles, Dave Golder, Kevin Harley, James Hibbs, Alan Jones, Lewis Knight, Sean McGeady, Katelyn Mensah, Steve Morrissey, Molly Moss, James Mottram, Jayne Nelson, David Parkinson, Emma Simmonds, Terry Staunton, Christian Tobin, Amber Wilkinson, Jamie Windust, and Josh Winning. Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Add these films to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" class="x_OWAAutoLink" 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 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.
12 underrated TV gems from 2025 – from The Assembly to Worlds Apart
The best of the small screen over the past 12 months that you might have missed.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. As well as this year’s biggest TV juggernauts – Adolescence (Netflix), The White Lotus (Sky Atlantic), The Celebrity Traitors (iPlayer) et al – we have been spoilt with some relatively undiscovered gems. Here’s my Deserving Dozen… 1. Confessions of a Brain Surgeon - iPlayer Pioneering neurosurgeon Henry Marsh quotes French doctor René Leriche, who wrote, “Every surgeon carries within himself a small cemetery… a place of bitterness and regret.” Now retired, Marsh’s regrets are both professional and personal, humble and honest. 2. Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action - Netflix How did the former Mayor of Cincinnati create a TV phenomenon that pitched itself as a champion of free speech yet stood accused of ruining US culture? Comparing himself to Oprah Winfrey, Springer said, “She does a talk show, I do a circus. Just no lions.” 3. Worlds Apart - Channel 4 Six young Brits each team up with a pensioner to travel across Japan, solve puzzles and try to win a £50,000 prize. They trade energy and wisdom in a reality show not about age, but compassion and comradeship. 4. Last One Laughing - Amazon Prime Video Ten comedians try to make each other laugh, while not smiling themselves. More proof that there’s nothing funnier than watching someone trying to keep a straight face. 5. Jane Austen: Rise of a Genius - iPlayer A fascinating two-part documentary follows Austen’s own personal rebellion: only by rejecting an offer of marriage without love and putting herself in financial peril could she dodge a woman of her time’s lot and instead become its greatest-ever chronicler. 6. Once Upon a Time in Space - iPlayer The awe-inspiring triumphs and devastating tragedies of the two-decade space race, as remembered by those involved. Among them is Anna Fisher, the first mother in space, who told RT, “I didn’t want to be a female astronaut, just an astronaut.” 7. Live Aid at 40 - iPlayer <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/07/525554-77f2861.jpg" width="3980" height="2638" alt="A black and white still of George Michael, Harvey Goldsmith, Bono, Paul McCartney, Freddy Mercury, Andrew Ridgley, Helena Springs, David Bowie, Bob Geldof, Adam Ant and Stuart Adamson, which is shown in Live Aid at 40: When Rock n Roll Took on the World" title="525554,TITLE:Live Aid at 40: When Rock n Roll Took on the World" /> The day Bob Geldof stopped the world with music. Brian May told RT, “It was one of the few moments in anyone’s life that you know you’re doing something for all the right reasons.” Worth watching for the Radio Ga Ga clap-along alone. 8. Richard Burton: Wild Genius - iPlayer A sympathetic portrait of a star caught between worlds – stage versus screen, devoted first wife Sybil versus passionate lover Elizabeth Taylor, Wales versus the universe… Was Burton a wasted, tormented talent, or did he pack three lifetimes into one? You decide. 9. The Assembly - ITVX David Tennant and Gary Lineker are among stars interviewed by young people with autism, other forms of neurodivergence and learning disabilities. These inquisitors succeed in disarming their subjects, resulting in strikingly warm and honest telly – especially when it’s Danny Dyer in the hot seat. 10. Chris McCausland: Seeing into the Future - iPlayer A self-professed geek who has been blind since his mid-20s, comedian and Strictly winner McCausland is the perfect person to discover what Silicon Valley can offer by way of access-enabling technology – what he calls “building a bridge between blind people and the rest of the world”. 11. Ride or Die - iPlayer This documentary explores the role that Christian faith plays for bikers in the notoriously dangerous sport of road racing, many of whom tuck holy medals inside their racing leathers. It’s a window into a world of people living on the edge and at peace with the ever-present risk of falling off it. 12. Noel’s Kiwi Adventure - ITVX View Green Video on the source website With this half-jokey, half-serious series on his attempt to create a rural idyll in New Zealand, Edmonds is often effortlessly Alan Partridge: one minute you want to cheer and the next watch through your fingers. You’d need a heart of granite not to wish him well, and for his tirelessness alone he earns his place at the top of my TV Christmas tree. The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Check out more of our Documentaries 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 films on TV for Christmas and New Year 2025
As ever, there's a huge selection box of cinematic treats being shown on the small screen over the festive period.
While the TV schedules tend to be punctuated with some great films all the year round, that's never the case more than it is over the festive period – with all sorts of beloved movies broadcast on free to air TV over the holidays. Thankfully, things are no different this year, with the major terrestrial channels once again pulling out all the stops to air both classic staples from yesteryear and more recent movies, with a hugely varied selection of family films, romcoms, action flicks, musicals and much more making it into the schedules. As ever, this year sees broadcasts for some of the best films from the last couple of years – including Oppenheimer and Challengers – while there's also plenty to enjoy if you're more into old school favourites, like Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window and classic musical West Side Story. We’ve put together a list of some of the best movies to watch for free on TV this Christmas and New Year, separated by genre – take a look below to find out what’s on at no cost. Best free family films on TV this Christmas and New Year Ron's Gone Wrong Animated comedy adventure featuring the voices of Jack Dylan Grazer and Zach Galifianakis. Young misfit Barney is given the must-have interactive robot toy for his birthday, and names it Ron. But Ron appears to have a social software glitch, and when news of the defect goes viral, the CEO of the company that built Ron sees it as a potential PR threat that needs eliminating. Saturday 20th December, Channel 4, 11:15am How the Grinch Stole Christmas Comedy fantasy starring Jim Carrey. It's Christmas in Whoville and preparations are well under way. Meanwhile, up in his mountain lair, the Grinch, a cold-hearted hermit, sits alone resenting the Whovians' happiness. But then he's befriended by a little girl who softens his once impervious heart. Sunday 21st December, ITV2, 4:20pm The Little Mermaid Live-action adaptation of Disney's animated fairy tale, starring Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King. Ariel the mermaid is captivated by the world above the waves, much to the consternation of her father, King Triton. After saving a prince from drowning during a storm, Ariel makes a pact with a sea witch to become human for three days to win the prince's heart - little realising she will lose her beautiful voice as well as her fishy tail. Sunday 21st December, Channel 4, 4:50pm Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Animated comedy featuring the voices of Bill Hader and Anna Faris. Misguided inventor Flint Lockwood creates a machine that can turn water into food. But what initially seems like the answer to his community's economic crisis soon begins to cause some unexpected problems. Tuesday 23rd December, Comedy Central, 11am Despicable Me Animated comedy featuring the voice of Steve Carell. Behind the seemingly tranquil façade of small-town America, super-criminal Gru plots his biggest heist yet: to steal the Moon. But an encounter with orphan sisters Margo, Edith and Agnes proves that even the most dastardly villain has a soft centre. Tuesday 23rd December, BBC One, 2:15pm Hook Fantasy adventure starring Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, Julia Roberts and Bob Hoskins. Workaholic lawyer Peter Banning and his family spend Christmas in London with an old relative, Granny Wendy. The adults arrive home one evening to find that the children have vanished and a note has been left by Captain James Hook. With the help of a fairy named Tinkerbell, Peter sets off for Neverland to reclaim his offspring. Tuesday 23rd December, Channel 5, 4:10pm (repeated Monday 29th December, Channel 5, 10:15am) ET: the Extra-Terrestrial Steven Spielberg's classic sci-fi adventure, starring Henry Thomas and Dee Wallace, and featuring Drew Barrymore. Ten-year-old Elliott has a new friend, but he's from another planet and nobody must know he's here. Christmas Eve, ITV1, 1:35pm (repeated Tuesday 30th December, ITV1, 2:40pm) Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Animated superhero sequel featuring the voices of Shameik Moore and Hailee Steinfeld. Teenager Miles Morales, aka Spider-Man, is struggling with his studies, his parents and a vengeful new supervillain, the Spot. When his old friend Gwen Stacy, aka Spider-Woman, returns to his universe in pursuit of the Spot, Miles is drawn into a world-hopping multiversal adventure that leads to a shocking discovery. Christmas Eve, BBC One, 2:55pm Home Alone Comedy starring Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern. Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister's wish to be free of his family is realised when they accidentally set off without him for a Christmas break in Paris. Suddenly finding himself home alone, Kevin's efforts to cope with the household chores are hindered by two inept criminals attempting a robbery. Christmas Eve, Channel 4, 5:30pm Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl Animated Wallace & Gromit comedy featuring the voice of Ben Whitehead. The dynamic duo get into a spot of bother when old nemesis Feathers McGraw hacks into Wallace's latest invention and sets out on a crime spree. With Wallace out of the frame, it's up to Gromit to save the day. Can he outwit the diabolical penguin once again? Christmas Day, BBC One, 11:40am Frozen II Animated musical adventure featuring the voices of Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell. When Arendelle is threatened, princesses Elsa and Anna must set things right by travelling to an enchanted forest that will reveal the secrets of their family history - and the origins of Elsa's chilling magical power. Christmas Day, Channel 4, 3:10pm Puss in Boots: the Last Wish Animated comedy sequel featuring the voice of Antonio Banderas. With eight of his nine lives used up, it looks like the swashbuckling high life is over for Puss unless he can reach a magical land where wishes come true. An epic quest begins, but there are others with their eyes on the prize, too. Boxing Day, BBC One, 3:20pm Paddington 2 Comedy starring Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington. When a rare pop-up book is stolen before Paddington can buy it as a birthday present for his aunt Lucy, the little bear is arrested as the prime suspect in the theft. While Paddington is attempting to make the most of his incarceration, the true thief is using clues hidden in the book to locate the immense fortune of its late author. Boxing Day, BBC One, 5:20pm How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Animated comedy adventure featuring the voice of Jay Baruchel. Hiccup, Toothless and his friends have transformed Berk into a dragon utopia. But the island becomes overcrowded and Hiccup decides to find the fabled dragon haven known as the 'Hidden World'. Meanwhile, his fellow Vikings fight back against a ruthless dragonslayer who plans to trap Toothless. Saturday 27th December, BBC One, 3:10pm Chicken Run Animated comedy adventure, with the voices of Julia Sawalha, Jane Horrocks, Miranda Richardson and Mel Gibson. A clutch of hens, led by head chick Ginger, suffers life on a grim 1950s egg farm. When the avaricious owners decide to move into the meat-pie business, the chickens fear the worst. With the help of American rooster Rocky, the birds start to plan a prisoner-of-war-style escape. Sunday 28th December, BBC One, 10:15am Back to the Future Sci-fi comedy adventure starring Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd. High-school student Marty McFly thinks his future is ahead of him, until the day he tries out Dr Emmett Brown's modified DeLorean car and travels back in time. Stranded in 1955, Marty meets his parents and unwittingly changes their destiny. Can he put things right and return to the future before it's too late? Monday 29th December, BBC One, 2:40pm Marcel the Shell with Shoes On Part-animated comedy drama featuring the voice of Jenny Slate. Tiny talking seashell Marcel lives with his grandmother in a house that's used as an AirBnb. When a filmmaker comes to stay and uploads videos of Marcel's life to the internet, the lovable mollusc becomes a media sensation. But all Marcel really wants is to find the missing members of his extended family. New Year's Eve, BBC One, 9:35am Raya and the Last Dragon Animated fantasy adventure featuring the voices of Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina. Chieftain's daughter Raya has been trained to guard five precious gems that protect her community. When she is betrayed by a rival, Raya's people are turned to stone by evil spirits. Alone and desperate, Raya embarks on a quest to find Sisu, the last surviving dragon, who may have the power to undo the spell and reunite Raya with her friends and family. New Year's Day, Channel 4, 2:15pm Mrs Doubtfire 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. Friday 2nd January, Channel 4, 2:20pm Best free action films on TV this Christmas and New Year Die Hard Action thriller starring Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman. New York cop John McClane gets caught up in a terrorist plot after arriving in Los Angeles to spend Christmas with his estranged wife Holly and his two children. When Holly is taken hostage in the offices of the Japanese corporation she works for, McClane launches a daring rescue attempt. Saturday 20th December, Channel 4, 9pm Die Another Day Spy adventure starring Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry and Toby Stephens. After being betrayed during an operation in North Korea, agent James Bond is held prisoner by a ruthless military leader. A trade-off secures Bond's freedom, but his '00' agent status is withdrawn when he is suspected of leaking secret information. Eager for revenge, and with a traitor on the loose, Bond sets off on his own mission - to get close to evil megalomaniac Gustav Graves and uncover the secrets of his Icarus Project. Saturday 20th December, ITV1, 6:35pm (repeated Boxing Day, ITV1, 10:15pm) Spider-Man: Homecoming Superhero action adventure starring Tom Holland, Michael Keaton and Robert Downey Jr. Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, yearns to become a member of super-team the Avengers, and is frustrated when Tony Stark urges him to first finish high school. However, when Parker discovers a local man is illegally selling alien technology, the nascent hero spies an opportunity to prove his world-saving worth. Sunday 21st December, BBC One, 2:40pm John Wick: Chapter 4 Action thriller starring Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen and Bill Skarsgård. After recovering from being shot by his mentor, ace assassin John Wick is out for revenge against the High Table. However, the Marquis is now in control of the organisation and sends a horde of killers after the beleaguered hitman - which will have bloody consequences for friend and foe alike. Sunday 21st December, ITV1, 10:15pm (repeated Tuesday 23rd December, ITV1, 10:40pm) Raiders of the Lost Ark Action adventure starring Harrison Ford and Karen Allen. Indiana Jones's outrageous exploits take him around the world in search of the legendary Ark of the Covenant, a religious artefact of unspeakable power wanted by the Nazis. With the help of an old flame, Indy takes on his enemies in a terrifying and death-defying battle to the finish. Christmas Day, ITV1, 3:10pm (repeated Monday 29th December, ITV1, 10:45pm) Armageddon Sci-fi action adventure starring Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton and Ben Affleck. When a giant asteroid threatens Earth's survival, Nasa hatches a plan to drill into the rock and plant a nuclear device that will blow it apart. With time running out, the task of saving mankind falls to ace oil man Harry S Stamper and his band of unlikely heroes. Christmas Day, Channel 5, 6:15pm The Great Escape Classic Second World War adventure based on a true story, starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough and Charles Bronson. In an attempt to contain rebellious PoWs, the Nazis transfer the leading troublemakers to a seemingly escape-proof security camp. However, with the finest escape team in military history now under one roof, the German guards are hard-pressed to prevent the Allied prisoners from breaking out. Boxing Day, BBC Two, 4:45pm (repeated New Year's Day, BBC Four, 9pm) True Lies Action comedy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis. Harry Tasker is a secret agent posing as a computer salesman, and his bored wife Helen has no idea about his double life. When Tasker suspects Helen of having an affair, he triggers a chain of events that plunges her into his dangerous world of espionage. Saturday 27th December, Comedy Central, 9pm (repeated Tuesday 30th December, Comedy Central, 9pm) Top Gun Blockbuster action drama starring Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis and Val Kilmer. Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell is a rebellious pilot who is accepted into the air combat training programme at Miramar Naval Air Station. There he finds romance with one of his instructors as he battles to be the best. Sunday 28th December, ITV1, 9:30pm Face/Off John Woo's action thriller, starring John Travolta and Nicolas Cage. Terrorist Castor Troy is apprehended after an FBI operation, but in his coma-ridden state is unable to divulge the whereabouts of a bomb that is primed to blow up Los Angeles. With the clock ticking, Detective Sean Archer undertakes a face-transplant operation in order to impersonate Troy and locate the device. But things take a turn for the worse when Troy regains consciousness, steals Archer's face and assumes the lawman's identity. Monday 29th December, Channel 5, 11:15pm Mission: Impossible Action spy thriller based on the 1960s TV series, starring Tom Cruise, Jon Voight and Emmanuelle Béart. The elite Impossible Mission Force's latest assignment is to recover stolen information that threatens to blow the cover of US spies throughout the world. But the plan goes disastrously wrong. New Year's Eve, BBC One, 8:30pm Best free romcoms on TV this Christmas and New Year Happiest Season Festive romantic comedy starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis. Abby and Harper have been happily dating for a year. With Christmas approaching, Abby plans to propose to Harper in front of her family - but her romantic intentions are thwarted when Abby discovers that Harper's conservative parents have no idea she is in a relationship with a woman. Monday 22nd December, Film4, 9pm (repeated Monday 29th December, Channel 4, 1:15am) Love Actually Ensemble romantic comedy featuring Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightley and Bill Nighy. In London, during the weeks leading up to Christmas, people from various walks of life - among them adult film performers, a washed-up rock star and the British Prime Minister - suffer the emotional highs and lows of being in love. Christmas Eve, ITV 1, 9:10pm What's Up Doc? Screwball comedy starring Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal. When four identical suitcases get mixed up in a San Francisco hotel, it produces a series of crazy events which revolve around a zany girl and a shy music professor and his fiancée. Boxing Day, BBC Two, 10:40am Four Weddings and a Funeral Romantic comedy starring Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell. Together with a group of his friends, 30-something Charles is regularly invited to weddings, but he wonders if he will ever be ready to tie the knot himself. Then, at a country marriage, he meets the beautiful but elusive Carrie, who seduces him that night and leaves him utterly bemused when she returns to America the following day. Boxing Day, BBC One, 10:15pm The Seven Year Itch Billy Wilder's comedy, starring Marilyn Monroe, Tom Ewell, Evelyn Keyes and Oscar Homolka. A bored publisher revels in his new-found freedom after his wife and son go away to the country. When a beautiful but naive actress moves in upstairs, he is tempted to turn his fantasies of an affair with her into reality. But even in his dreams, his conscience has a way of tripping him up. Saturday 27th December, BBC Two, 12:50pm There's Something About Mary Romantic comedy starring Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon and Ben Stiller. Although still mortified by a disastrous prom date with the beautiful Mary Jenson years earlier, Ted Stroehmann still harbours feelings for his teenage sweetheart, so he sends private investigator Pat Healy to Miami to track her down. But is Pat's information about his findings reliable? Saturday 27th December, Channel 5, 10:30pm Shakespeare in Love Oscar-winning romantic comedy starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes. Will Shakespeare's career is in crisis: his money is running out and he's suffering from writer's block. But when he meets beautiful aristocrat Viola De Lesseps, his life - and the world of English literature - is destined to change forever. Sunday 28th December, BBC One, 12:15am Clueless Romantic comedy updating Jane Austen's Emma to the present day, starring Alicia Silverstone and Paul Rudd. Cher and her best friend Dionne are going on 16 and know everything about being gorgeous, popular, and always in vogue. But everything changes when Tai, a new transfer student, arrives. She is, in a word, 'clueless', and Cher sees it as her mission in life to give Tai a complete makeover. Monday 29th December, BBC One, 11pm The Lady Eve Classic screwball comedy starring Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda. Working the cruise liners, beautiful trickster Jean Harrington believes that the highly eligible Charles Pike is there for the taking, if she plays her cards right. New Year's Day, Film4, 11am Sabrina Romantic comedy starring Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn and William Holden. Heartbroken Sabrina, daughter of the chauffeur to a wealthy family, is sent to France after falling for eligible bachelor David Larrabee. She returns a changed woman but will she be luckier in love second time around? New Year's Day, Sky Arts, 7pm (repeated Friday 2nd January, Sky Arts, 3:45pm) Best free musicals on TV this Christmas and New Year High Society Musical comedy starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra. Time is short if playboy composer CK Dexter-Haven is to reclaim his beautiful ex-wife Tracy Lord before she marries another, especially with cynical reporter Mike Connor caught up in the romantic complications. Sunday 21st December, BBC Two, 11:30am Matilda Musical fantasy based on Roald Dahl's novel, starring Alisha Weir, Lashana Lynch and Emma Thompson. When her oafish and uncaring parents finally let her attend school, young bookworm Matilda Wormwood finds herself in conflict with tyrannical headmistress Miss Trunchbull. But salvation might come in the form of kindly teacher Miss Honey – as well as Matilda's sudden development of magical powers. Christmas Day, BBC One, 1pm White Christmas Musical starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. Old army buddies Phil Davis and Bob Wallace travel with the glamorous Haynes sisters to the Columbia Inn in Vermont. There, Phil and Bob are reunited with their old commanding officer, General Waverly, who is now struggling to keep the hotel going. The visitors decide there's only one answer - to put on a show. Christmas Day, BBC Two, 1pm Grease Musical based on the hit stage show, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Unexpectedly reunited with summer love Danny at her new high school, Sandy Olsson can't believe how different he is. Can the new Danny Zuko, the leather-clad, tough-talking leader of the T-birds, really be the boy she met down at the beach? Perhaps Frenchy and Rizzo, both members of the super-cool Pink Ladies gang, can help her develop some street cred to win back his heart. Sunday 28th December, ITV1, 12:40pm (repeated Tuesday 30th December, ITV1, 12:10pm) West Side Story Film version of the classic musical with songs by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, starring Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is updated to late-1950s New York where two rival gangs, the American 'Jets' and the Puerto Rican 'Sharks' are preparing for confrontation. The tension is heightened when Maria, the sister of 'Sharks' leader Bernardo, falls in love with a former 'Jet', Tony. New Year's Eve, BBC Two, 1:10pm Mary Poppins Returns Musical fantasy starring Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer. Widowed with two children and in dire financial straits, Michael Banks enlists his sister, Jane, to help find a crucial document that will save the family home from repossession. Luckily, some much-needed support drops into Cherry Tree Lane in the form of the siblings' half-forgotten childhood nanny, Mary Poppins. Friday 2nd January, Channel 4, 4:45pm Best of the rest on TV this Christmas and New Year Sense and Sensibility Period romantic drama, based on the novel by Jane Austen. Emma Thompson writes and stars with Kate Winslet in the story of the Dashwood sisters, who are disinherited following the death of their father and find that their reduced circumstances have an adverse effect on their romantic aspirations. Saturday 20th December, BBC Two, 2:50pm The Proposition Revenge drama starring Guy Pearce, Ray Winstone and Danny Huston. The Australian outback in the 1880s: when British lawmen led by Captain Stanley capture outlaw Charlie Burns after an outrageous murder, they force him to agree to kill his renegade older brother so that the life of his younger brother will be spared. Saturday 20th December, Talking Pictures TV, 9pm Oppenheimer Biographical drama starring Cillian Murphy and Emily Blunt. During the Second World War, American physicist J Robert Oppenheimer and fellow scientists race against time to develop an atomic bomb before the Nazis. But, during the 1950s Red Scare, his name is dragged through the mud by US officials. Sunday 21st December, BBC Two, 9pm It's A Wonderful Life Frank Capra's classic fantasy drama, starring James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore. George Bailey is a small-town businessman who believes he has been a failure. Contemplating suicide, George meets his guardian angel and discovers what life in his home town of Bedford Falls would have been like had he never lived. Sunday 21st December, ITV1, 12:45pm Jurassic Park Steven Spielberg's blockbuster adventure, starring Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Richard Attenborough. Billionaire tycoon John Hammond has built the ultimate theme park - an island populated by genetically engineered dinosaurs. A group of guests, including Hammond's grandchildren, are invited to preview the attraction, touring the park in remotely controlled cars. But, as a tropical storm gathers, an unscrupulous employee shuts down the elaborate security system, leaving the tour stranded with mayhem about to break loose. Sunday 21st December, ITV1, 3:15pm Doctor Zhivago David Lean's epic romantic drama, starring Omar Sharif and Julie Christie. Doctor and poet Yuri Zhivago is brought up in the family of Alexander Gromeko, whose daughter, Tonya, he marries. But his true love is the beautiful Lara, the mistress of a political opportunist. With the outbreak of the Great War, and with Moscow transformed by the Revolution, their romance is disrupted by the social upheaval surrounding them. Monday 22nd December, BBC Two, 2:55pm Challengers View Green Video on the source website Relationship drama starring Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist. Two tennis players, Art and Patrick, face off in a tournament final, watched by Art's wife and coach, Tashi. But simmering among the trio is a long and complex history, marked by ambition, rivalry and romance, all of which threatens to bubble over during this latest meet. Monday 22nd December, BBC One, 10:40pm Beetlejuice Horror comedy starring Michael Keaton, Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin. After Barbara and Adam Maitland are killed in a car crash, they find themselves trapped as ghosts in their beautiful home. When their peace is shattered by the arrival of a disagreeable yuppie family, the Maitlands enlist the help of a spiritual 'bio-exorcist' known as Betelgeuse. Monday 22nd December, BBC Two, 10:45pm Spartacus Historical epic starring Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier and Tony Curtis. Born into slavery, the gladiator Spartacus longs for freedom and soon finds himself at the head of an army of slaves in revolt against the might of the Romans. Tuesday 23rd December, BBC Two, 3pm Slumdog Millionaire Danny Boyle's Oscar-winning drama starring Dev Patel and Freida Pinto. Teenager Jamal Malik is one question away from winning the top prize on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? when the police intervene and accuse him of cheating. Under brutal interrogation, Jamal recounts the story of his life in the slums of Mumbai and how fate has brought him to this place and time. Tuesday 23rd December, BBC Two, 10:30pm Indecent Proposal Drama starring Robert Redford, Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson. In danger of losing their dream home, David and Diana Murphy travel to Las Vegas in the hope of gambling their way out of financial trouble. Diana catches the eye of John Gage, an eccentric millionaire, who offers them a million dollars to spend one night with Diana. Are the stakes simply too high for the Murphys? Christmas Eve, BBC Two, 10:30pm 2001: a Space Odyssey Keir Dullea stars in Stanley Kubrick's ground-breaking science-fiction epic, which depicts the evolution of man - from primitive apes to modern times - through the medium of space travel. Boxing Day, ITV4, 3:45pm Blue Velvet Cult mystery thriller starring Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rossellini, Dennis Hopper and Laura Dern. Jeffrey Beaumont's corner of small-town America is a pretty and peaceful place. But not far below the idyllic surface lies a dark and violent world, upon which young Jeffrey stumbles when following the trail of a severed ear. Boxing Day, BBC Two, 12:55am Double Indemnity Classic film noir, starring Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray and Edward G Robinson. Insurance salesman Walter Neff meets Phyllis Dietrichson, the wife of one of his clients, and is instantly drawn to her. It isn't long before she's pulled Neff into a shocking plot to murder her husband, claim his life cover and live happily ever after - but Neff's boss soon smells a rat. Saturday 27th December, BBC Two, 10:05am Elvis Musical biopic starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks. In the mid 1950s, low-level huckster Colonel Tom Parker discovers the young singer Elvis Presley and becomes his manager. Over the next two decades, Elvis experiences highs and lows as one of the most famous artists on the planet. But the debt-ridden Parker grows ever more controlling of his young cash cow. Saturday 27th December, BBC One, 7:45pm Unforgiven Western directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, and also featuring Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman and Richard Harris. Following the death of his wife from smallpox and the failure of his farm, former gunfighter William Munny is tempted back to his old ways by the bounty offered for killing the cowboys who badly scarred a prostitute. Saturday 27th December, BBC Two, 9pm The Banshees of Inisherin Period comedy drama starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. In a small Irish community, shepherd Pádraic lives a peaceful life, until one day his best pal Colm abruptly breaks off their long-standing friendship. Hurt and confused, Pádraic can't let the issue go, and the situation soon escalates to an extreme degree. Sunday 28th December, Film4, 9pm The Wicker Man Classic horror starring Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee. When a policeman receives an anonymous letter suggesting that a girl has mysteriously disappeared from a small island community, he sets out to investigate. On his arrival, the villagers deny any knowledge of the girl, and he soon discovers that life on the island is not all that it seems. Sunday 28th December, BBC Two, 1:20am Dial M for Murder Thriller starring Ray Milland and Grace Kelly. When he discovers his wealthy wife Margot is having an affair with novelist Mark Halliday, playboy Tony Wendice hatches a plot to ensure that he doesn't wind up penniless. Tuesday 30th December, BBC Two, 2:30pm Rear Window Classic thriller starring James Stewart and Grace Kelly. Confined to a wheelchair following an accident, magazine photographer Jeff Jeffries passes the time by observing the behaviour of his neighbours. One in particular catches his attention: Thorwald, a salesman he sees leaving the flat with a suitcase, and whose invalid wife has seemingly disappeared. Convinced something terrible has happened to Mrs Thorwald, Jeff and his girlfriend Lisa decide to investigate, putting themselves in deadly danger. Tuesday 30th December, BBC Two, 4:10pm The Full Monty Comedy drama starring Robert Carlyle, Tom Wilkinson and Mark Addy. Unemployed Sheffield steelworkers Gaz and Dave come up with a bold plan to restore their fortunes and capitalise on their assets - taking their clothes off for money. But just how far should they go to please the audience? New Year's Eve, BBC Two, 10pm Ben-Hur Classic period epic starring Charlton Heston. Wealthy prince Judah Ben-Hur sets himself up against the tyranny of his Roman masters at the time of Christ, and is condemned to almost certain death as a galley slave by his childhood friend Messala. But the two men are fated to meet again. Friday 2nd January, BBC Two, 2:35pm LA Confidential Oscar-winning crime drama based on the novel by James Ellroy, starring Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce and Kim Basinger. Three detectives become embroiled in a labyrinth of corruption, intrigue and murder involving a prostitute and the editor of a sleazy magazine. Friday 2nd January, Film 4, 9pm 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.
8 essential Rob Reiner films to watch to pay tribute: from This is Spinal Tap to When Harry Met Sally
The director of some of the most beloved American films of all time has died in tragic circumstances – but he leaves behind an incredible legacy.
There are few American filmmakers who will leave behind a legacy quite as remarkable or wide-ranging as Rob Reiner. The director, who has died aged 78, was the man behind many of the most beloved films of all time, working in – and excelling in – a vast array of different genres and styles. The son of another Hollywood legend, the iconic comedian and filmmaker Carl Reiner, Reiner junior first became known to a wide audience for his Emmy-winning role as Mike "Meathead" Stivic in the hit '70s sitcom All in the Family, before embarking on a directing career in 1984 with his debut film, the cult comedy classic This is Spinal Tap. With that film be began an incredible streak of hits that saw him master the coming-of-age flick (Stand By Me), the fantasy adventure (The Princess Bride), the romcom (When Harry Met Sally...), the horror genre (Misery) and the courtroom drama (A Few Good Men) – with pretty much everything he touched in the '80s and early '90s turning to gold. Critical and commercial hits were in shorter supply from the late '90s onwards, but he continued to be a well-regarded and admired figure in the industry. He made what turned out to be his final film earlier this year – perhaps fittingly a legacy sequel for his very first feature – and also continued to act in a number of projects, most recently showing up in a memorable recurring role in the fourth season of The Bear. Announcing his death – and that of his wife of more than 35 years, Michele – a family statement read: "It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time." The news has understandably prompted a host of heartfelt tributes from many of Hollywoods biggest names, and it seems likely that many fans will be honouring his incredible life and career by revisiting one or two of the many gems he gifted American cinema. With that in mind, we've gone into our archives to share our reviews of eight essential Reiner films, which you can find below. This is Spinal Tap (1984) This brilliantly crafted and completely on-target satire of the rock 'n' roll industry is filmed in mock documentary style, with every rock-music cliché savagely lampooned for maximum hilarity, as director Rob Reiner follows a fictitious British heavy metal band on tour. The Stonehenge-inspired production number is a showstopping highlight, but there's also immense pleasure to be had in the details, particularly the unbelievably crass song lyrics. Christopher Guest and Michael McKean are perfect as the group's incredibly stupid lead guitarist and singer, and Reiner's unsurpassed spoof never hits a false note. This pop send-up landmark has deservedly become a cult classic. – Alan Jones The Sure Thing (1985) A delightful comedy from director Rob Reiner that should have made John Cusack a star. He's superb as a beer-guzzling, sex-obsessed freshman who travels from his eastern college to California during the holidays to meet up with a beautiful girl who's a 'sure thing'. However, during a series of misadventures he ends up on the road with clean-living Daphne Zuniga, and that's where the fun really begins. Both the leads are enjoyable to watch, and this seems like a virtual blueprint for Reiner's later When Harry Met Sally..., but with even more charm. Watch out for a young Tim Robbins as the driver with whom no one should ever hitch a ride. – Joanna Berry Stand By Me (1986) Rob Reiner’s bucolic, nostalgic drama is widely agreed to be one of the most successful adaptations of a story by horror master Stephen King – in this case, a novella called The Body from his primarily non-supernatural collection of stories, Different Seasons. It's a likeable but hard-centred picaresque set in 1950s Oregon that blends the themes of childhood friendship, parental pressure and the loss of innocence into a Boy Scout-style roving adventure. The bookish Wil Wheaton leads a gang of friends (subtly played by the likes of Corey Feldman and River Phoenix) on a rural camping odyssey to find the fabled body of a missing boy. Each of the group is something of a social misfit, and their problems at home are deftly revealed and resolved against some rollicking action sequences (involving an oncoming train, a leech-infested swamp and a vicious junkyard dog) on the way to an eventual showdown with bullies. – Andrew Collins The Princess Bride (1987) Rob Reiner has always been 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 When Harry Met Sally... (1989) 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 Misery (1990) This superb adaptation of Stephen King's bestseller from director Rob Reiner deals with the trappings of celebrity, fanatical devotion, artistic dilemmas and the worthiness of commercial fiction within a psychological suspense context. Kathy Bates deservedly won an Oscar for her monstrously scary performance as novelist James Caan's Number One Fan, turning from caring nurse to insane Baby Jane torturer after learning he's killed off her favourite literary character. While not a true-blue horror movie, Reiner's adept exercise in chilling claustrophobia nevertheless contains numerous jolts, with the sledgehammer hobbling scene certain to evoke screams of revulsion. – Alan Jones A Few Good Men (1992) The ultimate rebel Jack Nicholson has a ball playing the ultimate establishment figure in this star-laden, rather old-fashioned courtroom drama. In fact, Nicholson's role as the obsessive, hard-nosed marine officer is little more than a scene-stealing cameo – the two leads are Tom Cruise and Demi Moore, who play naval lawyers trying to discover the truth behind the death of a recruit. It's crisply directed by Rob Reiner, who once again shows that he is comfortable with numerous styles of film-making, and, if it becomes a little talky at times, the climactic fireworks between Nicholson and Cruise make for compulsive viewing. The fine supporting cast includes Kevin Bacon, Kevin Pollak and JT Walsh, and there's also a chilling cameo from Kiefer Sutherland. – John Ferguson The American President (1995) This gleaming, witty and irresistible romantic comedy from director Rob Reiner often harks back to the films of Frank Capra and was one of several White House-based movies made in the wake of Bill Clinton's election. Shot on an impressive full-size mock-up of the White House's business and domestic quarters, the picture stars Michael Douglas as President Andrew Shepherd. Recently widowed and the father of a young daughter, Shepherd is in need of female company at official functions. Eco-lobbyist Annette Bening fits the bill and, after he dances with her in public, the press go into speculative overdrive. The script makes fun of the president's isolation (it's almost impossible for him to make a personal phone call or even buy a bunch of flowers) and Douglas gives a commanding performance that is far removed from his earlier roles in films such as Fatal Attraction and Falling Down. Bening is also terrific, combining the politically correct attitudes of the 1990s with Lauren Bacall's slinky sophistication and Jean Arthur's bubbly wit. The odd cliché apart, this is perfect entertainment. – Adrian Turner 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 vintage Christmas movies to watch now – 11 festive classics and where to watch them
From It's a Wonderful Life to The Apartment, here's our list of the very best Christmas films from yesteryear.
Christmas movies have perhaps never been in greater supply, with Netflix and its streaming competitors now in the habit of releasing a glut of brand new festive films every single year. But while there have been some great new additions to the canon in recent times – none more so than Alexander Payne's terrific Oscar-nominated The Holdovers – you have to go back decades to find some of the best ever examples of the genre. Of course, It's A Wonderful Life tends to be the most cited vintage classic, and with good reason, but there are plenty of other options from yesteryear if you're looking for something traditional as we count down the days to 25th December. To help you out, we've put together a list of 11 great Christmas movies released between 1934 and 1960, including everything from a Laurel and Hardy favourite to a revered adaptation of A Christmas Carol and a couple of delightful movie musicals. Read on to see our list – and details on how you can watch them. 1. It's a Wonderful Life (1946) This masterpiece from Frank Capra is a film with much more to it than festive feel-good sentimentality and still has a lot to say about community spirit. As the suicidal man who is shown the value of his life by his guardian angel, central character George Bailey is Mr Deeds, John Doe and Mr Smith rolled into one, and only James Stewart could have so successfully lent him the self-doubt that gnaws away at his essential decency. As with all good morality tales, the villain has to be exceptional, too, and Lionel Barrymore is at the peak of his powers as the evil Potter. The term Capra-esque is too often misapplied: forget the imitations and revel in the genuine article. – David Parkinson Where to watch: ITVX, Prime Video and NOW 2. The Shop Around the Corner (1940) This wonderful romantic comedy drama, about pen pals who fall in love without realising they work together, contains delightful performances by Margaret Sullavan (full of grace and warmth) and the young James Stewart (a portrait of perfection). The plot is paper-thin, but under the deft direction of the great Ernst Lubitsch the film (based on Nikolaus Laszlo's play Parfumerie) has charm in abundance. It was remade in 1998 as You've Got Mail, with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. – Tony Sloman Where to watch: Rent or buy on Prime Video, Google Play and YouTube from £3.49. 3. White Christmas (1954) This partial remake of the 1942 film Holiday Inn – the Bing Crosby movie that gave the world the Irving Berlin song White Christmas – provided Paramount with an opportunity to introduce its new screen process Vistavision. Crosby's Holiday Inn partner Fred Astaire wasn't available, and Donald O'Connor pulled out, so Danny Kaye reluctantly agreed to second billing to co-star with Crosby, in what proved to be a fortuitous move. The story, as if you need reminding, is about a song-and-dance team who travel up to Vermont to help their former army commander save his inn from foreclosure. Kaye is superb, especially in his knockout dance routine with Vera-Ellen, and the direction from veteran Michael Curtiz rightly embraces the sentiment rather than keeping it at bay. – Tony Sloman Where to watch: NOW 4. Babes in Toyland (1934) Fairy-tale whimsy with Laurel and Hardy! What could be better for children of all ages? Victor Herbert's light operetta is adapted to the extent there's nothing left of the original, with Stan and Ollie as incompetent assistants to Santa Claus. They make 100 six-foot wooden soldiers instead of 600 foot-tall ones, but the outsize toys come in handy when miser Silas Barnaby parts Tom-Tom from his beloved Bo-Peep and tries to take over Mother Goose's nurseryland. Simple-minded joy. – Tom Hutchinson Where to watch: Rent or buy on Prime Video, Google Play and YouTube from £3.49. 5. Remember the Night (1940) Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray, both at the top of their form and perfect foils for one another, co-star in this romantic comedy, written by Preston Sturges and directed by Mitchell Leisen. The action concerns a shoplifter (Stanwyck) whose trial is delayed by the Christmas holiday, leaving her somewhat adrift. Sympathetic, assistant district attorney MacMurray takes pity on her and brings her home to his family’s snowbound country home for Christmas. An absolute delight, combining warmth and charm with a little sentimentality and humour, woven together with stylish ease by all concerned. – Robyn Karney Where to watch: Not currently streaming, but available to buy on Blu-ray 6. Miracle on 34th Street (1947) This isn’t the benign remake with Richard Attenborough, but the marvellous original first shown in the UK as The Big Heart. Natalie Wood plays a jaded youngster who knows there's no such thing as Father Christmas because her mother, Maureen O'Hara, organises a New York department store's yearly parade, and Wood has always seen Santa played by drunken old men. Then along comes Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) to work some Christmas magic. The great plot was rightly awarded Oscars for best screenplay and original story, while Gwenn also won as best supporting actor. Indeed, Gwenn became so identified with this role that every holiday he found himself hired to hand out presents at the houses of such Hollywood notables as Louis B Mayer. Children may prefer the newer, more obvious version, but parents will warm to this utterly beguiling original. – Tony Sloman Where to watch: Disney+ 7. Scrooge (1951) Released in the US under Dickens's original title, A Christmas Carol, this is easily the best screen version of the much-loved yuletide tale. The ever-versatile Alastair Sim is impeccable as the miser who comes to see the error of his ways through the promptings of the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Michael Hordern makes a splendid Jacob Marley and Mervyn Johns a humble Bob Cratchit, while George Cole does well as the younger, carefree Scrooge. Beautifully designed by Ralph Brinton and directed with unexpected finesse by Brian Desmond Hurst, this is not to be missed. – David Parkinson Where to watch: Tubi 8. Meet Me in St Louis (1944) This portrayal of a perfect American family – including Mary Astor as the mom and Judy Garland as one of four daughters – was too sugary for some critical tastes at the time, but it can be viewed today as a vintage MGM musical. Whatever the film’s minor flaws, they are more than made up for by some dazzling musical numbers – including Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, The Trolley Song and Skip to My Lou – enhanced by the masterly direction of Vincente Minnelli at the top of his game. Providing a romanticised but still uplifting depiction of life in St Louis at the beginning of the 20th century, this may be a tale that only works against the backdrop of a more innocent age, but it’s delightful, and too good to miss. – Peter Freedman Where to watch: Rent or buy on Prime Video, Google Play and YouTube from £3.49 9. Holiday Affair (1949) In this absolutely charming yet little-known RKO Christmas movie, Janet Leigh plays a widowed single mother torn between Robert Mitchum and Wendell Corey (that's a contest?) and, not surprisingly, drawn to the one her son prefers. There's a sweet opening sequence and a nice sense of New York at Christmas time that's a touch reminiscent of Miracle on 34th Street. Mitchum reveals what a subtle actor he could be and Leigh proves yet again that she was one of the most delectable of cinematic charmers. Cynics should steer well clear, but if you're in the right mood this is delightful seasonal entertainment. – Tony Sloman Where to watch: BBC iPlayer 10. Christmas in Connecticut (1945) A corny little piece, and the hokum is hopelessly dated now, but it is still enjoyable, nevertheless. Barbara Stanwyck almost convinces as the oh-so-chic journalist whose column extols the virtues of home cooking and country living, who, as a promotional stunt, is forced to look after a navy hero (Dennis Morgan) for Christmas except, of course, she lives in the city, can't cook and has to rent a cottage in Connecticut. The idea is sound enough, but it becomes awfully sentimental under Peter Godfrey's uninspired direction. Still, Sydney Greenstreet is splendid as Stanwyck's boss, and, although lacking in true wit (one wonders what Billy Wilder or Preston Sturges would have made of it), it's a good deal better than the 1992 TV remake, directed by no less than Arnold Schwarzenegger, with Dyan Cannon in the Stanwyck role.– Tony Sloman Where to watch: Rent or buy on Prime Video, Google Play and YouTube from £3.49. 11. The Apartment (1960) 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: ITVX Read our guide to the best Christmas TV for 2025 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 Christmas films on Disney Plus in 2025 – from Home Alone to The Muppet Christmas Carol
The streamer's collection of festive fare includes both beloved classics and underseen gems.
While Netflix are undoubtedly the most productive of the major streamers when it comes to releasing brand new Christmas films every year, it's arguably Disney Plus which has the best selection of proper Yuletide classics. The library includes such beloved gems as Home Alone, The Muppet Christmas Carol and two versions of Miracle on 34th Street, alongside a couple of films that are known to start debates as to whether they can truly qualify for Christmas status: Die Hard and The Nightmare Before Christmas. But that's not all. You can also find a number of other seasonal films on the platform, including some great options for younger viewers and even an Oscar-nominated short film from acclaimed Italian director Alice Rohrwacher. Check out our list of recommendations below – and also make sure to take a look at our lists for Netflix Christmas films and Prime Video Christmas films too. Home Alone More than 30 years on from the film's release, Macaulay Culkin's turn as Kevin McAllister remains one of the most revered child performances of all time. As you'll no doubt be aware, the film sees 8-year-old Kevin – who has inadvertently been left behind when his family go off on holiday – laying all manner of violent booby traps in a bid to stave off the threat of two opportunistic burglars (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) on Christmas Eve. The film has spawned a number of sequels over the years, which are also all available to view on Disney Plus, although in our opinion only the most immediate of those follow-ups, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, is especially worth your time. Die Hard While not everyone considers this classic 1988 action flick to be a Christmas movie – it had its original release in July, after all – it's undoubtedly become a seasonal staple for millions of film fans around the world, thanks to its Christmas Eve setting, festive soundtrack and perhaps the best use of Ho Ho Ho ever seen on film. Of course, the film stars Bruce Willis as John McClane, a New York detective who unexpectedly finds himself up against an army of terrorists while visiting his wife's Christmas Eve party in an LA skyscraper. Willis's central performance – which includes a string of memorable lines – has gone down in action movie history, while few villains are more iconic than Alan Rickman's Hans Gruber. The Muppet Christmas Carol There have been countless adaptations of Charles Dickens's classic Yuletide yarn over the years, and yet few of them can boast anything like the fandom of this delightful version starring The Muppets. Narrated by Gonzo (as Dickens himself) and Rizzo the Rat, it finds key roles for the majority of the beloved characters, while Michael Caine is on superb form as Ebenezer Scrooge – playing it completely straight against his non-human co-stars. This fresh, brilliantly chaotic take on the iconic tale coupled with an assortment of terrific original songs – including Thankful Heart and It Feels Like Christmas – make this perhaps the definitive film version of the novella, a movie that can't fail to put you in a great festive mood. A Christmas Carol If the Muppets aren't for you (what is wrong with you??), then you might be more at home with this 2009 adaptation of the tale. Directed by Robert Zemeckis and originally designed to be watched in 3D, it saw the filmmaker use the same motion-capture animation techniques he'd used in his earlier Christmas film Polar Express – which gives the film a rather unique visual style. Jim Carrey stars in multiple roles as Ebenezer Scrooge and all three of the visiting spirits, while there are also key roles for Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins and Robin Wright, among others. How much it works for you will largely depend on how keen you are on the technology used, but the story itself is performed well and told faithfully. The Nightmare Before Christmas Is Tim Burton and Henry Selick's macabre animated feature a Christmas film or a Halloween one? That's a question thats invariably asked every year, and perhaps the most appropriate answer is that it's actually both at once. The stop-motion musical fantasy tells of Jack Skellington, the disillusioned Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, who one day stumbles upon a portal to Christmas Town and becomes devoted to bringing Yuletide to his own home, even kidnapping Santa Claus (or Sandy Claws). Although it leans into its Halloweeny themes, there are more than enough Christmassy images and ideas to qualify it for a festive watch. Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas This animated anthology starring Mickey and his pals was released straight to video back in 1999 and is a great option for younger viewers looking for a bit of festive fun, It consists of three short films – Donald Duck: Stuck on Christmas, A Very Goofy Christmas and Mickey and Minnie's Gift of the Magi – and if that's not enough for you, you can find a further five stories in the 2004 follow-up Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas. The Santa Clause This Christmas comedy from 1994 sees Tim Allen – in his first leading film role – playing a divorced and somewhat curmudgeonly father who finds himself unexpectedly landing a gig as the next Santa Claus after he inadvertently kills the previous Saint Nick. Although initially startled at the prospect, he slowly grows into his new role and rediscovers a Christmas spirt that he'd long been missing. It was followed by two sequels – The Santa Clause 2 and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause – in 2002 and 2006, which are also both streaming on Disney Plus. How the Grinch Stole Christmas After Scrooge, there's no doubting the second most famous Christmas-hater – Dr Seuss's infamous green creation The Grinch. Although there was a more recent animated movie adaptation in 2018, this 2000 film starring Jim Carrey is undoubtedly the definitive movie version. It follows the infamous grouch as he does his worst to ruin the festive period for the Christmas-loving residents of Whoville, who he despises. However he is soon befriended by a 6-year-old local girl named Cindy Lou (Taylor Momsen ) who tries to get him to change course. Miracle on 34th Street Another classic Christmas story, there are actually two versions of this film available on Disney Plus. The 1947 original stars Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle, with Richard Attenborough playing the same role in the popular 1994 remake – which also features Matilda child star Mara Wilson. Both films are set in New York City and see Kris Kringle – who had been working as a department store Santa – put on trial due after doubts are raised as to whether he could possibly be the real Santa Claus, much to the distress of the young girl he has befriended. Noelle This 2019 Disney Plus original stars Anna Kendrick as Santa Claus's daughter Noelle, who is forced to take over the family business when her father decides that the time has come to retire and her older brother goes mysteriously missing. The starry supporting cast also includes Bill Hader, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Billy Eichner, Julie Hagerty and Shirley MacLaine. The Family Stone The late Diane Keaton leads an ensemble cast that also includes the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker, Claire Danes, Rachel McAdams and more. The film follows Parker's Meredith, who has grown up with conservative values, discovering that she's a bit of a misfit at her boyfriend's family's Christmas celebrations. While their relationship seems to be going swimmingly when in the city, when they visit family in a small New England town, that's when things start to go awry. Le pupille This Oscar-nominated Italian short film from La Chimera director Alice Rohrwacher is an under-the-radar gem in Disney Plus's Christmas library – and is well worth a watch if you're after something a little different from the usual festive fare. Set at Christmastime during the Second World War, it follows Serafina, a young outcast at a strict Catholic orphanage who is always getting in trouble, and is soon excited by the delivery of a large cake. 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 films released in the UK this month: December 2025
Highlights include Sentimental Value, Marty Supreme and The Housemaid.
As 2025 comes to a close, there's a chance you've already started compiling your list of the best films of the year – but you might want to hold of finalising that list just yet. That's because there are still some pretty major films set to arrive in UK cinemas throughout December, from long-awaited blockbusters like Avatar: Fire and Ash to major awards hopefuls like Sentimental Value and Marty Supreme. There's also fantasy romcom Eternity, video game horror sequel Five Nights at Freddy's 2, and horror comedy reboot Anaconda, while those who have read Freida McFadden's 2022 best-seller The Housemaid will be very excited about the starry adaptation led by Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney. Meanwhile, two A-list stars are stepping behind the camera for the first time, with Scarlett Johansson's Eleanor the Great and Kate Winslet's Goodbye June among the more intriguing new releases of the month. To help you pick out the highlights, we've put together a selection of some of the best films to watch this month – check out the video above or read on for our choices. Best films released in the UK this month: December 2025 Eternity Release date: Friday 5th December in cinemas Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller and Callum Turner star in this afterlife-set love triangle romcom from director David Freyne. The plot sees the soul of a recently deceased woman named Joan (Olsen) given one week to decide where to spend eternity, as she finds herself "torn between the man she spent her life with, and her first love, who died young and has waited decades for her to arrive". It Was Just an Accident Release date: Friday 5th December in cinemas This thriller from legendary Iranian director Jafar Panahi won the prestigious Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival. It follows a man after he bumps into the man he firmly believes to be his former torturer, although the latter strenuously denies this having been the case – which leads to some major doubt creeping in. Five Nights at Freddy's 2 Release date: Friday 5th December in cinemas Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail and Matthew Lillard return in this sequel to the hit video-game adaptation, which once again sees some terrifying animatronic creatures wreaking havoc. According to the official synopsis, it sees 11-year-old Abby (Piper Rubio) sneaking out to reconnect with the animatronics, which "sets into motion a terrifying series of events that reveal dark secrets about the true origin of Freddy's". Fackham Hall Release date: Friday 12th December in cinemas Comedian Jimmy Carr co-wrote the script for this period drama spoof which boasts a starry cast including Damian Lewis, Katherine Waterston, Tom Felton and Thomasin McKenzie. Set in the 1930s – and clearly designed to ape the likes of Downton Abbey – the official synopsis teases that it sees a "new porter form an odd bond with the youngest daughter of a well-known UK family" at the same time as that family deals with "the epic disaster of the wedding of their eldest daughter to her caddish cousin". Eleanor the Great Release date: Friday 12th December in cinemas Scarlett Johansson makes her directorial debut with a drama about a 94-year-old Holocaust survivor played by June Squibb. It follows her when she moves from Florida to New York after the death of her dearest friend, as she attends a support group for Holocaust survivors and "tells a tale that takes on a dangerous life of its own". Goodbye June Release date: Friday 12th December in cinemas (24th December on Netflix) Another directorial debut from an A-lister – this time Kate Winslet steps behind the camera for an all-star Christmas-set drama. According to the synopsis, it sees a man and his four adult children navigate messy family dynamics when his wife's health takes a turn for the worse during Christmastime. Silent Night, Deadly Night Release date: Friday 12th December in cinemas Halloween Ends star Rohan Campbell has the lead role in this remake of the classic festive slasher about a killer Santa. Campbell is Billy, a man who – after a scarring incident in his youth – "dons the red suit and embarks on a blood-soaked massacre to feed his twisted sense of justice" every Christmas. Ella McCay Release date: Friday 12th December in cinemas Emma Mackey stars as an idealistic politician in this comedy-drama from iconic writer/director James L Brooks – his first film in 15 years. It follows her as she navigates difficulties in both her personal and professional life, with the starry supporting cast including Jamie Lee Curtis, Woody Harrelson, Alfred Brooks, Jack Lowden and Ayo Edebiri. Avatar: Fire and Ash Release date: Friday 19th December in cinemas The third adventure in James Cameron's mega-successful sci-fi franchise explores another new frontier in the land of Pandora. The synopsis doesn't give too much away, but teases that, "Jake and Neytiri's family encounter a new, aggressive Na'vi tribe". Sentimental Value Release date: Friday 26th December in cinemas Norwegian auteur Joachim Trier follows up his 2021 hit The Worst Person in the World with this moving family drama, which looks set to be a big awards player. The cast includes Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning, with the film exploring events after a renowned director (Skarsgård) tries to cast his actress daughter (Reinsve) in his next film after years of estrangement. Marty Supreme Release date: Friday 26th December in cinemas Timothée Chalamet is Oscar-tipped for his role in this '50s set comedy-drama from Josh Safdie, a fictionalised tale loosely based on the life of champion table-tennis player Marty Reisman. The incredibly eclectic supporting cast includes Gwyneth Paltrow – in her first on-screen role in more than five years – in addition to Odessa A'zion, Kevin O'Leary, Tyler Okonma (aka Tyler the Creator), Abel Ferrara and Fran Drescher. The Housemaid Release date: Friday 26th December in cinemas Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried have the lead roles in this adaptation of Freida McFadden's best-selling novel of the same name. It follows events after young woman (Sweeney) is hired to become the live-in maid for a wealthy couple only to learn that they harbour some sinister secrets – with plenty of twists and turns along the way. Anaconda Release date: Friday 26th December in cinemas This sequel to the 1997 horror-comedy of the same name – which is billed as a meta reboot – stars Jack Black and Paul Rudd in the lead roles. The synopsis teases that "a midlife crisis inspires Doug (Black) and Griff (Rudd) to head into the Amazon rainforest to remake their favourite film from their youth" with but everything changing when "a real giant anaconda shows up, turning the comically chaotic set into a deadly situation". 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 films released in the UK this month: November 2025
Highlights include Predator: Badlands, Wicked: For Good, and Wake Up Dead Man
We're reaching the end of 2025, but – as is usually the case at this time of year – there are still a lot of major releases to come, and November's slate is absolutely packed with big hitters. In terms of franchise fare, the month gets off to a good start with Dan Trachtenberg's Predator: Badlands – starring Elle Fanning – while fans of the Now You See Me films will be glad to see the return of The Four Horsemen (and a new batch of younger magicians) in the third entry in that series. There's also two more big star-studded Netflix releases ahead of their streaming debuts in December, with Noah Baumbach's comedy drama Jay Kelly and the third Knives Out Mystery Wake Up Dead Man both getting limited theatrical runs. As for awards contenders, it's well worth checking out Jennifer Lawrence's turn in Lynne Ramsay's Die My Love and Sydney Sweeney's performance in true story boxing drama Christy, with both stars in the running to be nominated for Best Actress at next year's Oscars. There's also a new horror film from Longlegs director Oz Perkins, Edgar Wright's new adaptation of Stephen King's The Running Man and a sequel to Disney's Zootropolis, plus new films starring Brenda Blethyn, Benedict Cumberbatch and Ethan Hawke. And that's before we even get to the biggest release of the month: Wicked: For Good. To help you pick out the highlights, we've put together a selection of some of the best films to watch this month – check out the video above or read on for our choices. Best films released in the UK this month: November 2025 Predator: Badlands Release date: Friday 7th November in cinemas Prey director Dan Trachtenberg returns with another new entry in the Predator franchise – which is the first film in the series to make a member of the Predator species the protagonist. It follows young outcast Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) after he's sent to a remote planet and strikes up an unlikely bond with a synthetic human named Thia (Elle Fanning), with some interesting connections to the Alien franchise along the way. Dragonfly Release date: Friday 7th November in cinemas Brenda Blethyn and Andrea Riseborough star in this hard-hitting British drama from writer/director Paul Andrew Williams, about the unlikely bond between a vulnerable pensioner and her next door neighbour who offers to lend a hand. Mixing social realist drama that recalls the work of Ken Loach and Mike Leigh with more thriller elements, it's a highly effective film that aims to dig deep into the heart of broken Britain. The Running Man Release date: Wednesday 12th November in cinemas Edgar Wright directs this second adaptation of Stephen King's novel – with Glen Powell starring in the role previously played by Arnold Schwarzenegger and a supporting cast that also includes Colman Domingo, Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, Michael Cera and Emilia Jones, among other. As with the previous film, it is set in a near-future society and follows a man named Ben Richards who is forced to take part in a gruesome reality show titled The Running Man, in which contestants must survive being hunted by professional assassins, Beyond that, there are major departures from the previous version. Now You See Me: Now You Don't Release date: Friday 14th November in cinemas The Four Horsemen – and a new generation of younger magicians – return for this third entry in the popular heist series, which sees Rosamund Pike playing the villain. Her character is Veronika Vanderberg, the heir to a diamond fortune whose evil deeds must be exposed by the two generations of magicians. The new younger characters are played by Ariana Greenblatt, Dominic Sessa and Justice Smith, while Jesses Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco and Isla Fisher all reprise their previous roles. Jay Kelly Release date: Friday 14th November in cinemas (comes to Netflix on 5th December) Noah Baumbach's star-studded comedy drama is getting a brief theatrical release before it arrives on Netflix next month. It follows the titular movie star (played by George Clooney) and his loyal manager Ron (Adam Sandler) as they embark on an "unexpectedly profound journey" through Europe, with the stellar supporting cast including the likes of (deep breath) Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, Jim Broadbent, Patrick Wilson, Eve Hewson, Greta Gerwig, Lenny Henry, Emily Mortimer, Isla Fisher, Jamie Demetriou and Louis Partridge, among others. Keeper Release date: Friday 14th November in cinemas Oz Perkins follows up his recent horror films Longlegs and The Monkey with this surrealist chiller about a sinister cabin in the woods, starring Tatiana Maslany (who also appeared in The Monkey). The official synopsis teases: "Liz and Malcolm head to a secluded cabin for their anniversary weekend. Liz, alone after Malcolm suddenly returns to the city, is approached by an evil entity that unveils the cabin's secrets." Die My Love Release date: Friday 14th November in cinemas Jennifer Lawrence gives one of the best performances of the year in this intense film from writer/director Lynne Ramsay about a woman suffering from postpartum psychosis – based on the novel of the same name by Ariana Harwicz. The film also features Robert Pattinson, LaKeith Stanfield, Nick Nolte and Sissy Spacek and includes all sorts of images that will be hard to shake from your mind after watching, with the unpredictable film mirroring the inner chaos felt by its protagonist. The Thing with Feathers Release date: Friday 21st November in cinemas This adaptation of Max Porter's award-winning book stars Benedict Cumberbatch as a grieving widower and father of two who is visited by a large, ominous crow as he tries to come to terms with the death of his wife. The Crow – who is voiced by David Thewlis – is the living embodiment of the character's grief, and presents some major problems as he tries to cope with a return to normal life. Wicked: For Good Release date: Friday 21st November in cinemas This one needs no introduction: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande return as Elphaba and Glinda for the second part of Jon M Chu's hugely popular Oz-based musical adaptation. Based on the second half of the stage show, it picks up where last year's Oscar-nominated film left off and even includes a couple of brand new musical numbers penned by composer Stephen Schwartz. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Release date: Wednesday 26th November in cinemas (comes to Netflix on 5th December) Daniel Craig returns as sleuth Benoit Blanc for a third starry murder mystery from writer/director Rian Johnson, which is getting a limited theatrical run ahead of a December Netflix debut. Supporting players this time include Josh O'Connor, Josh Brolin, Andrew Scott, Glenn Close and Cailee Spaeny, with Blanc called in to assist after the charismatic monsignor of a small Catholic parish is found dead in mysterious – and seemingly impossible – circumstances. Blue Moon Release date: Friday 28th November in cinemas The latest collaboration between directer Richard Linklater and star Ethan Hawke explores the end of the creative partnership between legendary songwriters Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, as the former embarks on a hugely successful new collaboration with Oscar Hammerstein. Hawke plays Lorenz as a witty but tragic figure, while Andrew Scott shines as Rodgers, with the action all unfolding over one evening following the opening night of Rodgers and Hammersteins's groundbreaking new musical Oklahoma! Zootropolis 2 Release date: Friday 28th November in cinemas This Disney sequel sees animal detectives Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde going undercover to catch a mysterious reptile, who "turns the mammal metropolis of Zootropolis upside down". The starry voice cast includes roles for Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Shakira, Ke Huy Quan and Andy Samberg. Christy Release date: Friday 28th November in cinemas Sydney Sweeney delivers a knock-out central performance in this emotional true story drama about pioneering boxer Christy Martin, one of the most influential woman in the sport's history. In addition to exploring the rise of her career, the hard-hitting film also explores her toxic marriage to abusive husband and former coach James V Martin, who is chillingly played by Ben Foster. 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.
Ghost of Yōtei armour: Best armour sets for every playstyle
Having the best armour set can go a long way in Ghost of Yōtei, a game that rewards you for playing thoughtfully and matching the right gear to your playstyle. Whichever way you’re exploring the Ghost of Yōtei map (shoutout to everyone who’s ignoring the main missions to maximise their freewheeling open-world adventures), you’ll want to be wearing the best armour possible for the task at hand at any given point. Some of the best Ghost of Yōtei armour is angled around one particular weapon or a single combat style, but there are a few that offer more general boosts that feel more like traditional video game armour. So, what’s the best armour in Ghost of Yōtei? And how do you get it? Keep on reading and we’ll run through all the best options and why they might be right for Atsu in your case. Let’s get to it. What is the best armour in Ghost of Yōtei? In this writer’s opinion, the best armour in Ghost of Yōtei is Taro’s Armour. As I’m not particularly obsessed with one particular weapon type or playstyle, the Taro Armour stands out as a very strong option for two reasons. For one thing, it boosts your health (by a minor amount to start with, but more and more with every upgrade). Secondly, it enhances your Spirit gains when you have a cooking bonus. These two factors means that it gives you a general boost during combat scenarios without taking anything helpful away from you. And as an added bonus, it’ll also reduce fire and cold damage. However, we’re aware that everyone plays the game differently and therefore will require a different armour to maximise their chances. To try and help more of you out, we’ve listed a number of great armour sets below and what each one is best for. Best armour sets in Ghost of Yōtei Taro's Armour: Best for Health and Spirit What it does: All Spirit gains increased by a minor amount when graced with a cooking Spirit bonus. Maximum Health increased by a minor amount. Fire and Cold damage reduced by a moderate amount. How to get: Rescue Taro the scavenger from a group of Ronin. This can happen at a number of different locations around the map, so make sure to swoop in and help any helpless person you see being ganged up on by Ronin. See video guide Ninetail Armour: Best for Stealth How to get: Follow the main quest about assassinating The Kitsune and you’ll pick up this armour at one of the Ninetail bases along the way. It’s in the Blood on the Snow chapter. What it does: Enemy detection is reduced by a minor amount. Assassinating enemies has a minor chance of granting 1 Quickfire ammo. Quickfire weapon damage and duration of status effects inflicted on enemies are increased by a minor amount. See video guide Dragonfly Armour: Best for Bow and Arrow What it does: Increase Arrow reload speed by a moderate amount. Firing an empowered Arrow grants a minor amount of Concentration. Fully drawing your bow creates a brief timed glint. Firing an arrow during the glint empowers your shot, moderately increasing its damage and range. How to get: Find Cairn Forks in the north east of Shizunai Woods in the Tokachi Range area of the map. Speak to Daijiro, go with him to Huranui's Rest Inn, and finish the tale to unlock the armour. See video guide Speaking of videos, you can check out our interview with Yōtei co-director Nate Fox in the player below. We talk all about the benefits of going PS5 exclusive and leaving the old PS4 behind. View Green Video on the source website Ginji’s Guard: Best for Gun Fights What it does: Incoming projectiles inflict less damage by a major amount. Blocking deflects incoming bullets. Increase Tanegashima reload speed by a minor amount. How to get: Complete the Pride Before Tea Tale. To start that quest, speak to Ginji the Armorer at Benten Port along the Oshima Coast. See video guide Bounty Master Armour: Best for Perfect Parry fiends What it does: A Perfect Parry enables 2 additional counterattacks. All Spirit Gains are increased by a minor amount. Perfect Parry and Perfect Dodge windows are increased by a minor amount, but regular Parries are disabled. How to get: Complete bounty missions until you get the bounty for Soma the Condemed Bounty. Defeat Soma and you’ll get this armour. See video guide Armour of the Undying: Best for weapon matching What it does: If weapon aligned, Focus Attacks have a minor chance to increase Stagger damage. If weapon aligned, Staggering enemies restores a minor amount of Health. If weapon aligned, the window to perform Perfect Parry and Perfect Dodge is increased by a minor amount. How to get: Complete The Undying Samurai tale. You can pick up this quest at Storyteller's Rest in Ishikari Plain. See video guide And that's your lot! If you love matching your weapon to the opponent, using the 'rock paper scissors' system in the game, that last one (Armour of the Undying) will do you the world of good. It's also worth remembering, with all of the armour in the game, that you can upgrade your armour a few times to turn those minor boosts into major ones and really tailor the perks to your benefit. Whichever armour you choose, have a great time out there in the open world! Read more on Ghost of Yōtei: Ghost of Yōtei weapons: How to unlock all the different weapon types explained Ghost of Yōtei chapters: Full list of missions and how many quests to expect Ghost of Yōtei sales numbers: How much money has it made? Which Ghost of Yōtei assassination target should you do first? Check out more of our Gaming 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.
FC 26 Squad Battle rewards: Full list and when to claim rewards
FC 26 Squad Battles rewards are some of the easiest ways to earn coins and packs in Ultimate Team, but what is actually on offer? Squad Battles, which pits players against AI-controller teams instead of real players, is a little more casual than Division Rivals and FUT Champs, but still rewards players with some great prizes for competing. Here’s the full list of Squad Battles rewards and how to redeem them. FC 26 Squad Battles rewards release time Squad Battles rewards go live at 8am BST, 9am CET, 12am PT or 3am ET on Sundays. Consider it a nice way to start the day with your coffee and a bunch of packs. You can redeem the rewards in-game, but you’ll also find them available when launching the EA FC Companion App after that time has passed. All EA FC 26 Squad Battles rewards While it's a little less competitive, Squad Battles still has some great rewards, particularly if you can put in the time to play all 18 weekly matches (16 AI squads, plus a Featured Squad and the Team of the Week). Here are the rewards you’ll get at each level. Note, the points required can change each week, so be sure to check them in the Competitions menu of the companion app or the in-game menu. Bronze 3 - 1x Premium Gold Loan Player Bronze 2 - 1x 75-85 Rare Gold Player and 1x 75+ Rare Gold Player Bronze 1 - 3x 75-85 Rare Gold Players and 3x 75+ Rare Gold Players Silver 3 - 1x Consumable Pack, 5x 75+ Rare Gold Players, 3x 75-85 Rare Gold Players Silver 2 - 4x 75-85 Rare Gold Players, 3x Consumable Packs, 16x 75-85 Rare Gold Players Silver 1 - 3x Consumable Packs, 9x 75+ Rare Gold Players, 4x 75-85 Rare Gold Players Gold 3 - 6x 75+ Rare Gold Players, 1x Rare Consumable Pack, 3x 82+ Rare Gold Players, 4,000 Coins Gold 2 - 5,500 Coins, 9x 75+ Rare Gold Players, 1x Rare Consumable Pack, 1x 84+ Rare Gold Player, 1x 82+ Rare Gold Player Gold 1 - 12x 75+ Rare Gold Players, 1x Rare Consumable Pack, 1x 84+ Rare Gold Player, 1x 83+ Rare Gold Player, 6,500 Coins Elite 3 - 12x 75+ Rare Gold Players, 1x Rare Consumable Pack, 12x 84 + Rare Gold Players, 8,000 Coins, 1x 83+ Rare Gold Player Elite 2 - 2x Rare Consumable Packs, 12x 75+ Rare Gold Players, 3x 84+ Rare Gold Players, 10,000 Coins Elite 1 - 15x 75+ Rare Gold Players, 12,000 Coins, 4x 84+ Rare Gold Players, 2x Rare Consumable Packs Rank 1 - 200 - 1x 85+ Rare Gold Player, 2x Rare Consumable Packs, 15x 75+ Rare Gold Players, 3x 84+ Rare Gold Players, 15,000 Coins Note, these rewards aren’t cumulative. If you get Elite 1 rewards, you won’t get Elite 2 rewards and everything else that came before. Read more on FC 26: FC 26 player ratings confirmed - Top-rated players FC 26 wonderkids - Best young players FC 26 fastest players FC 26 soundtrack How to do Siu celebration in FC 26 How to do the Cole Palmer celebration in FC 26 FC 26 wingers - Best RW, LW, RM and LM Check out more of our Gaming 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 films released in the UK this month: October 2025
Highlights include The Smashing Machine, Frankenstein and Bugonia.
Film fans have a very exciting month of new releases ahead in October – with all number of big awards hopefuls landing in cinemas over the next few weeks following their splashy premieres at recent major film festivals. Among those to look out for are two biographical films boasting performances that are expected to big contenders in this year's Best Actor race, with Dwayne Johnson starring as MMA fighter Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie's The Smashing Machine and Jeremy Allen White taking on the role of music icon Bruce Springsteen in biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere. Meanwhile, Netflix also have three of their buzzy new titles opening in select cinemas this month ahead of their streaming debuts, with Kathryn Bigelow's A House of Dynamite, Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein and Edward Berger's Ballad of a Small Player all arriving soon. Elsewhere, director Yorgos Lanthimos has teamed up with Emma Stone once again for the intriguing new film Bugonia, actor Harris Dickinson makes his directorial debut with the well-reviewed drama Urchin and indie darling Kelly Reichardt has a new film starring the reliably great Josh O'Connor titled The Mastermind. And of course, it wouldn't be October without a major new horror flick – and this year's biggest Halloween release is The Black Phone 2, a sequel to Scott Derrickson's hit film from 2022. To help you pick out the highlights, we've put together a selection of some of the best films to watch this month – check out the video above or read on for our choices. Best films released in the UK this month: October 2025 The Smashing Machine Release date: Friday 3rd October in cinemas Dwayne Johnson has been highly praised for his performance in this biographical sports film about MMA fighter Mark Kerr, which is written and directed by Benny Safdie – his first film without brother Josh. Adapted from a documentary, the film follows both the highs and lows of Kerr's life and career – including the many personal hardships he had to overcome along the way – with Emily Blunt co-starring as his then-wife Dawn Staples. Urchin Release date: Friday 3rd October in cinemas Popular actor Harris Dickinson makes his directorial debut with this social realist drama about a homeless man stuck in a cycle of addiction, with Frank Dillane starring in the lead role. The film received great acclaim when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival back in May, and has seen Dickinson mark himself out as a director to watch – in part due to some impressive use of surrealist flourishes. A House of Dynamite Release date: Friday 3rd October in cinemas (24th October on Netflix) Kathryn Bigelow's first film since Detroit was released in 2017 is a tense political thriller about the USA's response to an imminent nuclear strike, written by former journalist Noah Oppenheim. The starry cast includes Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Clarke, Anthony Ramos and Idris Elba – the latter as a fictional US President – as we follows the various responses to the situation from three different perspectives, going up higher the chain of command with each chapter. I Swear Release date: Friday 10th October in cinemas Robert Aramayo has the lead role in this drama based on the life of John Davidson – a Scottish campaigner for Tourette's syndrome who was previously featured in two acclaimed BBC documentaries and was awarded an MBE in 2019. Written and directed by Kirk Jones and also starring Maxine Peake, Peter Mullan and Shirley Henderson, it has the makings of a crowd-pleasing hit while also shining light on the obstacles faced by those living with the condition. Tron: Ares Release date: Friday 10th October in cinemas The third instalment in the Tron series – and the first since Tron: Legacy in 2010 – is a 'soft reboot', with Jared Leto stepping into a new role as a super-intelligent program named Ares. The film also includes roles for Gillian Anderson, Evan Peters, Greta Lee and original star Jeff Bridges, with the official synopsis teasing that it will follow events after Ares is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind's first encounter with AI beings. Ballad of a Small Player <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/08/colin-farrell-ballad-of-a-small-player-979ce02.jpg" width="1261" height="840" alt="Colin Farrell in Ballad of a Small Player, wearing a dark velvet suit with a pale pink shirt and white boutonniere, standing against a backdrop of glowing neon signs in a bustling Asian night market street." title="colin-farrell-ballad-of-a-small-player" /> Release date: Friday 17th October in cinemas (29th October on Netflix) Conclave director Edward Berger teams up with Colin Farrell for this psychological thriller about a troubled gambler laying low in Macau, with other key cast members including Fala Chen and Tilda Swinton. Chen plays the mysterious Dao Ming – described as "a casino employee with secrets of her own" – who offers Farrell's character a lifeline, only for him to be confronted by a private investigator (Swinton) who has been tailing him for some time. Frankenstein Release date: Friday 17th October in cinemas (7th November on Netflix) Guillermo del Toro finally makes his long-gestating passion project – a spectacularly designed adaptation of Mary Shelley's iconic gothic novel, Frankenstein. Oscar Isaac plays the titular mad scientist while Jacob Elordi stars as the monster he creates, with other key cast members including Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, David Bradley, Charles Dance and Christoph Waltz. The Black Phone 2 Release date: Friday 17th October in cinemas Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw return for this sequel to the 2022 horror film from Scott Derrickson, who is also back as both writer and director. The film follows 15-year-old Gwen (McGraw) as she receives calls and sees disturbing visions of three boys being stalked at a winter camp – eventually heading with her brother Finn (Thames) to confront the terrifying Grabber (Hawke) and solve the mystery. After the Hunt Release date: Wednesday 22nd October in cinemas The latest film from prolific director Luca Guadagnino is this drama starring Julia Roberts as a college professor who finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when one of her colleagues is accused of a terrible act. The cast for the film also includes Andrew Garfield, Ayo Ediberi, and Guadagnino regulars Chloe Sevigny and Michael Stuhlbarg. Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere Release date: Friday 24th October in cinemas Jeremy Allen White stars as Bruce Springsteen in this biopic, which follows The Boss as he records his 1982 album Nebraska – during which time he had to "reconcile the pressures of success with the ghosts of his past". Among the starry supporting cast, there are roles for Jeremy Strong as his record producer and manager Jon Landau, Stephen Graham as his father Douglas and Odessa Young as his love interest Faye Romano. The Mastermind Release date: Friday 24th October in cinemas Josh O'Connor and Alana Haim star in this 1970s-set art heist film from acclaimed indie writer/director Kelly Reichardt, which premiered to strong reviews at this year's Cannes Film Festival. O'Connor plays a family man-turned art thief named James Blaine Mooney who is forced to go on the run after he and two cohorts wander into a museum in broad daylight and steal four paintings. Bugonia Release date: Friday 24th October in cinemas The latest collaboration between director Yorgos Lanthimos and star Emma Stone is this sci-fi black comedy about the CEO of a major company who may or may not be an alien intent on ruining the planet. Based on the 2003 South Korean film Save the Green Planet!, it follows two conspiracy-obsessed men – played by Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis – who kidnap the CEO determined to prove their theory about her real identity. 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.
FC 26 cheap players: Bargains and free agents to sign in Career Mode
These players will give your team a boost, but won’t cost the Earth.
EA Sports FC 26’s huge database of players means you can spend hours scouring for the best cheap players to improve your squad. We’ve already covered the finest wonderkids, but sometimes you need an experienced player to come in and set the tone, or a free agent looking to stake their claim. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some of the best players you can sign for very little, including a separate list of players you can snap up for nothing. Even big names like Memphis Depay can be found among the free agents! Let's get started. Best bargains in FC 26 Career Mode If you’re in need of a versatile player, Jorthy Mokio is our biggest recommendation. He’s got plenty of potential in defence, but we reckon he might end up being the next big thing in central midfield. Jorthy Mokio: Age 17 | Ajax | CDM, CM, LB, CB | 70 OVR | 89 POT | Value: £3.4m Marc Guiu is worth a punt from Chelsea, too, but he’s currently on loan at Sunderland, so you’ll have to wait a while before you can bring him in. Marc Guiu: Age 20 | Chelsea | ST | 71 OVR | 84 POT | Value: £4m Nelson Weiper is another young striker you can bag fairly cheaply from FSV Mainz, and he’s got a fairly high ceiling. View Green Video on the source website Nelson Weiper: Age 20 | 1. FSV Mainz 05 | ST, CAM, CM | 70 OVR | 84 POT | Value: £3.5m When it comes to wide men, Liverpool’s new young hero, Rio Ngumoha, is worth a look. He’s rated at 68 at the start of the game, but can reach as high as 88, making him a great early signing and one that’ll recoup his modest fee with ease. Rio Ngumoha: Age 16 | Liverpool | LM, LW | 68 OVR | 88 POT | Value: £2.9m Here are a few extra recommendations for scouting early on: Christos Mouzakitis: Age 18 | Olympiakos | CM, CAM | 71 OVR | 86 POT | Value: £3.9m Konstantinos Karetsas: Age 17 | Genk | CAM, RW, CM | 70 OVR | 86 POT | Value: £1.4m Elias Baum: Age 19 | Eintracht Frankfurt | RB, RM | 72 OVR | 84 POT | Value: £4.8m Yarek: Age 20 | PSV | CB, LB | 73 OVR | 85 POT | Value: £6m Robin Risser: Age 20 | RC Lens | GK | 72 OVR | 82 POT | Value: £4m Lucca Brughmans: Age 17 | Genk | GK | 59 OVR | 82 POT | Value: £140k Best free agents in FC 26 Career Mode There are some fantastic players currently unattached in EA FC 26, and there’s a good chance that if you don’t sign them up, a rival will. We’re talking tricky wingers like Hakim Ziyech, versatile forwards like Memphis Depay, and experienced CB Romain Saiss (who, in real life, has moved to the Qatar Stars League already). Memphis Depay | 81 | ST Romain Saiss | 79 | CB Luis Malagon | 79 | GK Hakim Ziyech | 78 | RM Alexis Vega | 78 | LW Akram Afif | 78 | LM Krzysztof Piatek | 78 | ST Roberto Alvarado | 78 | RM Guilherme | 77 | CDM Alejano Zendejas | 76 | RM Don’t forget to check the free agency market regularly. Doing so will ensure you won’t miss out on a bargain. Read more on FC 26: FC 26 player ratings confirmed: Top-rated players FC 26 wonderkids: Best young players FC 26 fastest players FC 26 soundtrack How to do Siu celebration in FC 26 How to do the Cole Palmer celebration in FC 26 FC 26 FUT Champs rewards FC 26 wingers: Best RW, LW, RM and LM Check out more of our Gaming 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.
FC 26 strikers: Best ST in Career Mode (Men's and Women's)
These strikers will bag you plenty of goals this season.
EA Sports FC 26 is available now in early access, but we already had a good idea which of the world’s strikers would be banging in the goals in this year’s game. The top-rated ST in the game is, perhaps to little surprise, Kylian Mbappé, but he’s followed swiftly by Champions League winning PSG striker Ousmane Dembélé and Manchester City talisman Erling Haaland. Of course, women's football has been in the game for a few years now, so you'll need to know the best female strikers as well if you really want to build the best squad possible in your game mode of choice. Alessia Russo leads the charge, and is joined by some formidable players too. Below, we’ve got the top 10 strikers in the game for both men and women's teams, including their overall rating and current club. Looking for more of the game’s best players? Check out the best FC 26 wingers to terrorise defences with. Best strikers in FC 26 - Men If you're looking for more firepower in a men's league, these elite male strikers will bolster any front line: Kylian Mbappe | 91 | Real Madrid Ousmane Dembele | 90 | PSG Erling Haaland | 90 | Manchester City Harry Kane | 89 | Bayern Munich Robert Lewandowski | 88 | FC Barcelona Lautaro Martinez | 88 | Lombardia FC (Inter Milan) Alexander Isak | 88 | Liverpool Serhou Guirassy | 87 | Borussia Dortmund Julian Alvarez | 87 | Atletico Madrid Viktor Gyokeres | 87 | Arsenal Best strikers in FC 26 - Women If you're playing your Career Mode save in a women's league right now, the following female strikers are the best of the best: Alessia Russo | 89 | Arsenal Khadija Shaw | 89 | Manchester City Marie Katoto | 89 | OL Lyonnes Sophia Wilson | 88 | Portland Thorns Ewa Pajor | 88 | FC Barcelona Ada Hegerberg | 87 | OL Lyonnes Sam Kerr | 87 | Chelsea Lea Schuller | 86 | Bayern Munich Melchie Dumornay | 86 | OL Lyonnes Clara Mateo | 85 | Paris FC Of course, none of these will come particularly cheap, so prepare to get your chequebook out! Read more on FC 26: FC 26 player ratings confirmed: Top-rated players FC 26 wonderkids: Best young players FC 26 fastest players FC 26 soundtrack How to do Siu celebration in FC 26 How to do the Cole Palmer celebration in FC 26 FC 26 FUT Champs rewards Check out more of our Gaming 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 films released in the UK this month: September 2025
Highlights include Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, Steve and One Battle After Another.
With summer blockbuster season now behind us, we're moving in to the time of year where the big awards hopefuls start to premiere – and indeed a number of big hitters have recently premiered at the major festivals in Venice, Toronto and Telluride. We'll have to wait a while before most of those arrive in UK cinemas, but that doesn't mean we don't have plenty to look forward to in September, and there are several major new releases lined up for the next few weeks. The month has already got under way with a new film from Spike Lee and the latest entry in the mega-successful Conjuring franchise, and there's plenty more to come, from a sequel to beloved 1984 mockumentary This is Spinal Tap to the long-awaited closing chapter of Downton Abbey, as the Crawleys return to the big screen for a third and final movie spin-off. Later in the month, Cillian Murphy has reunited with Small Things Like These director Tim Mielants for new film Steve – which is getting a brief theatrical run before being added to Netflix – while the starry duo of Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell lead new romantic fantasy A Big, Bold, Beautiful Journey. But perhaps the biggest new release of all for film fans is the latest from esteemed writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson, who had teamed up with Leonardo DiCaprio for new thriller One Battle After Another – which seems like a good bet to be a contender when Oscars season comes around. To help you pick out the highlights, we've put together a selection of some of the best films to watch this month – check out the video above or read on for our choices. Best films released in the UK this month: September 2025 Highest 2 Lowest Release date: Friday 5th September in cinemas (and on Apple TV+) Denzel Washington leads the cast of Spike Lee's reimagining of the Akira Kurosawa film High and Low – playing a music mogul caught up in a ransom plot in New York City after his son's best friend is mistakenly kidnapped by culprits who had initially been targeting his son. You can find many of Lee's usual trademarks here – from playful stylistic choices to multiple sport and music references – while the supporting cast includes key roles for Jeffrey Wright, Wendell Pierce and rappers ASAP Rocky and Ice Spice. The Conjuring: Last Rites <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/09/the-conjuring-last-rites-patrick-wilson-vera-farmiga-9ec097f.jpeg" width="6000" height="4000" alt="Patrick Wilson as Ed Warren and Vera Farmiga as Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring: Last Rites standing in a lecture theatre giving a talk, with a screen showing a scary clown face behind them." title="Patrick Wilson as Ed Warren and Vera Farmiga as Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring: Last Rites" /> Release date: Friday 5th September in cinemas The fourth and final entry in the main The Conjuring saga sees Ed and Lorraine Warren called in to investigate the Smurl haunting in Pennsylvania, a case which turns out to have an unexpected personal connection relating to their daughter Judy. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are once again back as the Warrens, while Mia Tomlinson takes over the role of Judy and Ben Hardy plays her boyfriend Tony. Fans can look forward to plenty more of the jump scares that the franchise has become known for in addition to another case loosely adapted from a real story. Spinal Tap II: The End Continues Release date: Friday 12th September in cinemas More than four decades after they appeared in the legendary mockumentary This is Spinal Tap – which remains one of the most highly-rated comedy films of all time – the titular fictional heavy metal band return in this sequel, with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer all reprising their roles. This time, fictional director Marty DiBergi (played again by the film's actual director Rob Reiner) is hoping to capture the band's reunion after 15 years for one final show, as they hope to go out with a bang. The Long Walk Release date: Friday 12th September in cinemas Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson and Mark Hamill are among the stars in this adaptation of a 1979 Stephen King novel written under his pseudonym Richard Bachman. It follows a group of teens in a dystopian future USA who must go through a high-stakes contest that forces them to continuously walk or else be shot by a member of their military escort, until only one of them remains. It is the second of three major King adaptations in the second half of 2025, following last month's The Life of Chuck and preceding Edgar Wright's new version of The Running Man, which is due for release in November. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Release date: Friday 12th September in cinemas The beloved period drama gets a fitting send-off in this third and final movie spin-off, which boasts a star-studded cast of new and returning stars – including Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville and Oscar-nominee Paul Giamatti, the latter of whom makes his first appearance since the 2013 Christmas special. The film will follow the Crawleys as they enter the 1930s, with the family facing financial trouble and a major scandal erupting around news that Lady Mary is to divorce – causing the family to embrace change as they grapple with the threat of social disgrace. Steve Release date: Friday 19th September in cinemas Cillian Murphy reunites with Small Things Like These director Tim Mielants for this emotional drama adapted by Max Porter from his own novella, Shy. The film tells the story about a headteacher at a reform school for boys with behavioural difficulties, who must balance his own mental health struggles with his duty of care for the youngsters, in particular a troubled boy named Shy (Jay Lycurgo). A Big Bold Beautiful Journey Release date: Friday 19th September in cinemas Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell star in this intriguing romantic fantasy from After Yang director Kogonada – playing a pair of strangers who find themselves embarking on a very unusual journey with each other. That journey sees them getting the chance to relive a number of moments from earlier in their lives, giving them each new perspectives on how they got to where they are – while they also appear to fall for each other in the process. One Battle After Another Release date: Friday 26th September in cinemas Paul Thomas Anderson returns with this madcap action thriller, which stars Leonardo Di Caprio in the lead role and is loosely based on Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland – moving the action from the '80s to the present day. The official synopsis reads: "When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunites to rescue one of their own's daughter." Brides Release date: Friday 26th September in cinemas The debut feature from Young Vic artistic director Nadia Fall follows two teenage girls – played by Ebada Hassan and Safiyya Ingar – who decide to run away from the UK and make a dangerous journey to Syria. Described as "a road movie about the intensity of female friendship and the mistakes of teenagehood", it received positive reviews when it premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Dead of Winter Release date: Friday 26th September in cinemas Emma Thompson stars in this intense Minnesota-set survival thriller – which also sees her daughter Gaia Wise playing a younger version of her character. It follows grieving widow Barb, who happens across a sinister hostage plot after she gets lost during the harsh Minnesota winter and soon puts everything on the line to mount a rescue mission. 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 films released in the UK this month: August 2025
Highlights include Weapons, Materialists and Caught Stealing.
Most of this year's big summer blockbusters – from Jurassic World Rebirth to Superman to The Fantastic Four: First Steps – have now arrived in cinemas, but there's still a whole host of new movies to come out before the summer is done. In fact, August is one of the most packed months for new releases of the year so far, with everything from slapstick spoof reboots (The Naked Gun) to acclaimed modern rom-coms (Materialists) to high-octane action sequels (Nobody 2). There's also a couple of hotly-anticipated horror flicks in the shape of Weapons and Together, plus a new adaptation of Stephen King's novella The Life of Chuck – one of the relatively rare examples of a work by the prolific writer that doesn't fall into the horror genre. Two of the film world's more divisive big-name directors – Ari Aster and Darren Aronofsky – also both have new films out in the shape of Eddington and Caught Stealing respectively, while first-time feature filmmaker Eva Victor has wowed many critics with their debut Sorry, Baby. Meanwhile, fans eagerly awaiting the adaptation of Richard Osman's best-selling Thursday Murder Club are also in luck – with the film getting a limited theatrical release six days ahead of its Netflix debut at the end of the month. To help you pick out the highlights, we've put together a selection of some of the best films to watch this month – check out the video above or read on for our choices. Best films released in the UK this month: August 2025 The Naked Gun Release date: Friday 1st August in cinemas Liam Neeson takes over from the late Leslie Nielsen in this reboot of the beloved spoof franchise – which comes more than 30 years after the previous entry and sees him play Frank Lt Frank Drebin Jr, the son of Nielsen's character from the original movies. Directed and co-written by The Lonely Island's Akiva Schaffer, it contains all the slapstick, silliness and wordplay that fans of the original run would hope for, with memorable supporting performances from the likes of Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand and Danny Huston. Weapons Release date: Friday 8th August in cinemas This hotly-anticipated horror from Barbarian writer/director Zach Cregger explores events after a classroom of children goes mysteriously missing – with the events unfolding from the perspective of various characters including school-teacher Justine Gandy (Julia Garner) and concerned parent Archie Graff (Josh Brolin). With each new perspective, the audience gleans more information about the mysterious force behind the disappearance – with the secrets best left completely unspoiled for maximum impact. But rest assured there are plenty of scares – and a couple of laughs – packed into the engrossing run-time. Freakier Friday Release date: Friday 8th August in cinemas Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis reprise their roles as mother and daughter Tess and Anna Coleman from the 2003 original in this sequel – which sees them experience an unexpected body swap on an even more chaotic scale than before. This time around, it's not each other they swap bodies with, but Anna's teenage daughter Harper (Julia Butters) and her nemesis and soon-to-be step-sister Lily (Sophia Hammons), which causes some pretty major problems for Anna's imminent marriage to Lily's father Eric (Manny Jacinto). Materialists Release date: Wednesday 13th August in cinemas Celine Song's Oscar-nominated drama Past Lives is one of the most critically adored films of recent years, and she follows it up with this modern day rom-com starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans. Johnson plays failed actress-turned-professional matchmaker Lucy, who finds herself in a love triangle involving a charming millionaire (Pascal) and her struggling actor ex-boyfriend (Evans) while living a glamorous life in New York. Nobody 2 Release date: Friday 15th August in cinemas Bob Odenkirk returns to action star mode in this sequel to the 2021 hit, which sees his character – assassin Hutch Mansell – caught up in even more carnage after taking his family on a much needed holiday. Connie Nielsen, RZA, Michael Ironside, Colin Salmon, Billy MacLellan and Christopher Lloyd are among the stars reprising their roles from the original, with Colin Hanks, John Ortiz and Sharon Stone joining the cast as three shady figures involved in corrupt practises at a theme park. Together Release date: Friday 15th August in cinemas Real-life couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie star in this body horror flick from debut director Michael Shanks, playing a married pair who move to the countryside and soon encounter a mysterious, nightmarish force that makes horrifying changes to their bodies. This presence adds further tension to their already deteriorating relationship, testing their love for each other to the very limit. The Life of Chuck Release date: Wednesday 20th August in cinemas This Stephen King adaptation from the prolific Mike Flanagan won the prestigious People's Choice Award at last year's Toronto Film Festival and stars Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan and Mark Hamill, among others. As its title suggests, the film tells the life story of a man named Chuck (or Charles Krantz, to use his full name) but the tale unfolds in three acts told in reverse order, beginning with his death – which coincides with the end of the universe – and ending with his childhood. The Thursday Murder Club Release date: Friday 22nd August in cinemas This adaptation of Richard Osman's best-selling crime novel of the same name boasts a starry cast including Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie and Helen Mirren, and is getting a limited theatrical run before coming to Netflix on Thursday 28th. The film tells the story of four retirees whose penchant for solving cold cases takes a thrilling turn when they find themselves with a real whodunit on their hands. All going well, this is expected to be the first in a series – with four books already published and a fifth on the way. Eddington Release date: Friday 22nd August in cinemas Hereditary and Midsommar director Ari Aster returns with his divisive fourth feature, which stars Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal as rival mayoral candidates in a New Mexico town – set during the height of the COVID pandemic in 2020. Billed as a neo-Western black comedy, the film opened to mixed reviews at the Cannes Film Festival – with viewers divided about its handling of hot button issues around the lockdowns and the culture wars. The starry cast also includes roles for Austin Butler and Emma Stone. Sorry, Baby Release date: Friday 22nd August in cinemas This A24 comedy-drama from debut filmmaker Eva Victor – who also stars in the lead role – boasts Moonlight's Barry Jenkins as a producer and received rave reviews when it premiered at Sundance Film Festival. It follows literature professor Agnes as she deals with a traumatic sexual assault while watching the world go on as normal for those around her. The synopsis teases: "When a beloved friend on the brink of a major milestone visits, Agnes starts to realise just how stuck she's been, and begins to work through how to move forward." Caught Stealing Release date: Friday 29th August in cinemas Darren Aronofsky's latest new film is a crime thriller written by novelist Charlie Huston and set in the 1990s New York underworld, with Austin Butler, Zoë Kravitz and Matt Smith among the stars It follows a New York City bartender and former baseball star (Butler) who finds himself caught in the middle of a motley crew of threatening gangsters after he agrees to look after the cat belonging to his punk-rock neighbour. The Roses Release date: Friday 29th August in cinemas A remake of the 1989 film The War of the Roses – itself based on Warren Adler's 1981 novel of the same name – this black comedy stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman as a seemingly picture-perfect couple who soon find themselves going through a bitter divorce. Former Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa is just one big name in a starry supporting cast that also include roles for Andy Samberg, Allison Janney, Sunita Mani, Jamie Demetriou, Zoë Chao and Kate McKinnon. 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 films released in the UK this month: July 2025
Highlights include Jurassic World Rebirth, Superman and The Fantastic Four: Next Steps.
As we head into July, it's safe to say that we are well and truly in summer blockbuster season – and there are three very major new releases arriving throughout the month. The first of those – Jurassic World Rebirth – has already stomped into UK cinemas, with Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali joining the dinosaur franchise for a reboot that has so far been met with a rather divisive reception. It will be followed by two massive superhero flicks. First, James Gunn will launch his new DC Universe with his hotly anticipated new take on Superman, starring David Corenswet as the Man of Steel. Then, less than a fortnight later, it's over to the MCU – with the franchise hoping that it can arrest its recent box office slide with the latest incarnation of the Fantastic Four, the hugely popular comic book characters who have been brought to the big screen to little critical success on two previous occasions. Plus, there's plenty more to look forward to if you're not so bothered by the big blockbusters – from a new comedy starring Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd to animated sequel The Bad Guys 2. Horror fans can count themselves especially lucky, thanks to the reboot of I Know What You Did Last Summer and new films from Talk to Me directors the Philippou brothers and – most intriguingly of all – one of the genre's greatest ever filmmakers in David Cronenberg. To help you pick out the highlights, we've put together a selection of some of the best films to watch this month – check out the video above or read on for our choices. Best films released in the UK this month: July 2025 Jurassic World Rebirth Release date: Wednesday 2nd July in cinemas The seventh film in the Jurassic franchise focuses on a trio of characters – played by Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali – who are hired by a shady pharma representative (Rupert Friend) to extract DNA from three massive prehistoric creatures in the hope it can lead to a major medical breakthrough. That mission takes them to Ile Saint-Hubert, an island once used by InGen as a dinosaur research facility, and it soon becomes clear that they're going to have to keep their wits about them if they hope to survive the trip – while they also come across a civilian family who have found themselves stranded. The Shrouds Release date: Friday 4th July in cinemas Iconic director David Cronenberg has made several of the greatest body horror movies of all time, and now he returns with this enigmatic film about a widowed entrepreneur who creates a machine allowing him to communicate with the dead. Vincent Cassel leads the cast as the entrepreneur, who is named Karsh, while there are also key roles for Diane Kruger, Guy Pearce, and Sandrine Holt in what has been described as one of the most personal – and strange – films of Cronenberg's storied career. Superman Release date: Friday 11th July in cinemas James Gunn finally launches his new-look DC Universe with this film starring David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, while Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult are among the big names to play iconic supporting roles – Lois Lane and Lex Luthor, respectively. Exact plot details have understandably been kept under wraps, but the official logline teases that it will explore the titular character's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his adoptive human family in Smallville, Kansas. Friendship Release date: Friday 18th July in cinemas Cult favourite comedian Tim Robinson and mega star Paul Rudd lead this acclaimed black comedy, which follows a suburban dad as he desperately attempts to befriend his charismatic neighbour. Fans of Robinson's Netflix sketch show I Think You Can Leave can expect to find more of the same wacky, offbeat humour on offer here – there'll definitely be moments that make you cringe! I Know What You Did Last Summer Release date: Friday 18th July in cinemas This reboot of the hit '90s slasher follows five friends whose attempts to cover up a car accident come back to bite them one year on, when a mysterious killer appears and begins to blackmail them with taunting messages about their crime. Madelyn Cline, Jonah Hauer-King and Chase Sui Wonders are among the stars playing the young quintent at the film's centre, while there are also high-profile returns for original cast members Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr – who reprise their roles when the new characters seek their expert guidance. The Fantastic Four: First Steps Release date: Thursday 24th July in cinemas Marvel has a lot riding on this latest incarnation of the popular comic book quartet – with Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach playing the beloved 'First Family'. As ever, precise plot details have not been divulged, but we do know that Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and the Thing will be called in to defend Earth from classic foes Galactus and Silver Surfer – who are played by Ralph Ineson and Julia Garner respectively. The Bad Guys 2 <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/07/The-Bad-Guys-2-33ed8a4.jpg" width="1224" height="816" alt="Mr Snake (Marc Maron), Mr Shark (Craig Robinson), Ms Tarantula (Awkwafina), Chief Misty Luggins (Alex Borstein), Mr Piranha (Anthony Ramos) and Mr Wolf (Sam Rockwell) in The Bad Guys 2 stood looking tense" title="Mr Snake (Marc Maron), Mr Shark (Craig Robinson), Ms Tarantula (Awkwafina), Chief Misty Luggins (Alex Borstein), Mr Piranha (Anthony Ramos) and Mr Wolf (Sam Rockwell) in The Bad Guys 2" /> Release date: Friday 25th July in cinemas This sequel to the 2022 animation follows five reformed criminals – Mr Wolf, Mr Snake, Mr Piranha, Mr Shark and Ms Tarantula – after they are pulled out of retirement and recruited for one more heist. The group behind this new project turns out to be an all-female squad of criminals – The Bad Girls – with Awkwafina, Natasha Lyonne and Zazie Beetz among the new faces joining the star-studded voice cast. Bring Her Back Release date: Saturday 26th July in cinemas The latest horror flick from YouTubers/filmmakers the Philippou brothers – the directing duo behind hit 2023 chiller Talk to Me – follows a pair of siblings who witness a terrifying ritual at the home of their new foster mother. That foster mother is played by Sally Hawkins, and it soon transpires she has turned to the occult in a desperate bid to bring her daughter back from the dead... 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 released in the UK this month: June 2025
Highlights include Elio, 28 Years Later and M3GAN 2.0.
May got this year's summer blockbuster season off to a good start, thanks to the release of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – and the huge box office success of Lilo & Stitch – and there are several more major movie set for release in June. To kick things off, there's Ballerina, the latest film in the John Wick franchise, while we can also look forward to a new original film from Pixar, a live-action remake of How To Train Your Dragon and a sequel to 2023 horror hit M3GAN. Meanwhile, there's also 28 Years Later – which sees Danny Boyle return to the post-apocalyptic world he originated in 2002 – and a couple of intriguing British independent features in the shape of Tornado and Lollipop. To help you pick out the highlights, we've put together a selection of some of the best films to watch this month – check out the video above or read on for our choices. Best films released in the UK this month: June 2025 Ballerina Release date: Friday 6th June in cinemas Ana de Armas takes the lead in this latest film from the John Wick franchise – which is set between the third and fourth instalments and focuses on ballerina-assassin Eve Macarro, who was very briefly introduced in a short scene in Chapter 3 (then played by Unity Phelan). After opening with a brief scene from her childhood, the film follows Eve as she trains in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma before setting out to exact revenge for her father's death. In addition to de Armas, the cast includes Anjelica Huston and Gabriel Byrne as well as roles from series stalwarts Ian McShane, the late Lance Reddick and John Wick himself Keanu Reeves. Clown in a Cornfield Release date: Friday 6th June in cinemas This slasher flick is based on a YA novel of the same name by Adam Cesare and stars Katie Douglas as Quinn, a teenager who has just moved to the quiet Missourri town of Kettle Springs with her father (Aaron Abrams). Shortly after their arrival, they learn two crucial things about the town and its community: they have fallen on hard times after the local corn syrup factory was burnt down, and they are keeping a dark secret concerning the clown mascot of that factory – who soon returns to terrorise the town decades after he murdered two teens. How To Train Your Dragon Release date: Friday 13th June in cinemas This marks DreamWorks first attempt to remake one of its animations in live action form, with original director Dean DuBlois returning to helm the reimagining and Gerard Butler reprising his iconic role as Stoick the Vast. The film tells the same story as the original – and some key sequences have even been recreated shot-for-shot – with Mason Thames and Nico Parker stepping into the main roles of Hiccup and Astrid and Nick Frost taking on the part of dragon fighting teacher Gobber the Belch. Lollipop Release date: Friday 13th June in cinemas This social-realist drama is the narrative feature debut of acclaimed documentarian Daisy-May Hudson – who was previously named one of BAFTA’s Breakthrough Brits – and boasts a starring performance from relative newcomer Posy Sterling. She plays young mum Molly, who is released from prison after serving four months only to find herself facing a terrible catch-22 situation when it comes to picking up her children from foster care: she can’t get housing because she doesn’t have her kids living with her; but she can’t get them back without a roof over her head. Tornado Release date: Friday 13th June in cinemas Writer/director John Maclean returns 10 years after his previous film Slow West with this unconventional samurai Western set against the backdrop of the Scottish countryside in the 1790s – with key roles for Tim Roth and Jack Lowden. The film follows the title character (Kôki) after her father's puppet samurai show gets ambushed by a notorious gang – and she vows to seek vengeance by stealing their ill-gotten gold. Elio Release date: Friday 20th June in cinemas The latest new film from Pixar sees the animation studio return to original storytelling after last year's Inside Out 2, this time with a sci-fi adventure about a child with a rich imagination who is accidentally beamed up to an interplanetary organisation called the Communiverse. While there, he is wrongly identified as Earth's ambassador to the rest of the universe and starts to form new bonds with eccentric aliens – voiced by the likes of Jameela Jamil and Shirley Henderson. 28 Years Later Release date: Friday 20th June in cinemas Director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland return to the world of post-apocalyptic horror with this follow up to their acclaimed 2002 flick 28 Days Later, which picks up almost three decades after the rage virus took hold. There's an entirely new cast for this chapter – with key roles for Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, Jack O'Connell and newcomer Alfie Williams – while it's also being billed as the first instalment in a brand new trilogy. F1 Release date: Wednesday 25th June in cinemas A mammoth budget has been spent on this sports drama from Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski, which has been made in collaboration with Formula One's governing body and stars Damson Idris and Brad Pitt. Pitt plays a former driver whose promising career had been ended by an accident in the 1990s and is now brought out of retirement 30 years later to act as mentor to hotshot rookie prodigy Joshua "Noah" Pearce (Damson). M3GAN 2.0 Release date: Friday 27th June in cinemas Two and a half years after M3GAN the doll became a viral hit, she's back for a new sequel – which picks up two years on from her murderous rampage. In the time since, a defence contractor has created a military-grade weapon known as AMELIA – who has become increasingly less interested in taking orders – and is now posing a major threat. M3GAN's creator Gemma (Alison Williams) decides there's only one thing for it: she must rebuild M3GAN with advanced upgrades so she can fight back. 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 released in the UK this month: May 2025
Highlights include Final Destination: Bloodlines, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and The Phoenician Scheme.
May is typically the time of the year when summer blockbuster season gets underway – and that's certainly the case this year, with a jam-packed schedule of big releases in the month ahead. The month has already enjoyed a good start with Thunderbolts* – the best-reviewed Marvel film for some time – but perhaps the blockbuster that will be causing most eager excitement among film fans is the latest entry in the Mission: Impossible franchise, which arrives on Wednesday 21st. As if that wasn't enough, that very same week also sees a new film from the always brilliant auteur Wes Anderson, with his latest quirky confection The Phoenician Scheme set to arrive in UK cinemas fresh from a splashy premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Meanwhile, two film franchises – Final Destination and Karate Kid – get their first new entries for some time, there's the latest in Disney's ongoing live-action remake project, and there are intriguing new films featuring the likes of Nicolas Cage, Rosamund Pike, Jenna Ortega and Carey Mulligan. Plenty to be getting on with then! To help you pick out the highlights, we've put together a selection of some of the best films to watch this month – check out the video above or read on for our choices. Sponsored by Vue Save up to 30% on the latest releases at Vue in 2025 Are you a movie lover who always wants to be up to date with the latest releases? Then you're in luck, as RadioTimes.com readers can enjoy new films at Vue Cinemas for less. Customers will receive up to 30% off films with Vue Pass, as long as they have a RadioTimes.com account. It's a great time for new releases, with films such as Wicked, Nosferatu, The Brutalist and Moana 2 taking UK cinemas by storm. Head to your nearest Vue to catch these movies and more for up to 30% less if you're signed up as a RadioTimes.com member. Save up to 30% with Vue Pass Best films released in the UK this month: May 2025 Thunderbolts* Release date: Thursday 1st May in cinemas The latest film in the MCU, which focuses on the titular team of anti-heroes and sees Lewis Pullman join the cast as Bob/The Sentry, has been hailed as a return to form for the franchise after a string of duds, including Captain America: Brave New World. Thunderbolts* follows events after an unlikely alliance is formed between a ragtag group whose number include Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova and Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes, and also lays the groundwork for the next phase of the MCU and the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. The Surfer Release date: Friday 9th May in cinemas Nicolas Cage stars in this creepy psychological thriller from director Lorcan Finnegan (Vivarium), about a man who becomes embroiled in an escalating conflict after taking his son to surf at the beach where he grew up next to. Julian McMahon also stars in the film, which premiered at the Midnight Screenings section of last year's Cannes Film Festival and has been widely praised by critics. Final Destination: Bloodlines Release date: Wednesday 14th May in cinemas The sixth instalment of the long-running horror series promises more of the franchise's trademark inventive kills, while it also marks the final screen appearance of the late Tony Todd. The plot again revolves around a group of teens being gruesomely picked off one by one, with the narrative this time revolving around a college student (Kaitlyn Santa Juana) who experiences a recurring nightmare foretelling her family's demise, and so returns home to find the person who can prevent it. Hurry Up Tomorrow Release date: Friday 16th May in cinemas This intriguing thriller serves as a companion to Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye's recent album of the same name, and stars Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan alongside Tesfaye as a fictionalised version of himself, with Trey Edward Shults (It Comes at Night) directing. The synopsis teases that it portrays Tesfaye as an insomniac musician on the verge of a mental breakdown who is pulled into an existential odyssey by a mysterious stranger. Hallow Road Release date: Friday 16th May in cinemas Rosamund Pike leads this tense thriller from director Babak Anvari (Under the Shadow, I Came By), while Matthew Rhys also stars. Pike and Rhys play a couple who receive a distressing late-night call from their teenage daughter after she accidentally hits a pedestrian, with the parents then racing to get there before anyone else stumbles across the scene. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Release date: Wednesday 21st May in cinemas All signs – from the title to the marketing campaign – point to this being Tom Cruise's swan song as IMF agent Ethan Hunt, so we can expect some very daring stunts and action sequences in the franchise's eighth film. It will follow on directly from 2023's Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, with Ethan and his allies continuing their mission to stop Gabriel from obtaining the AI program known as the Entity. The Phoenician Scheme Release date: Friday 23rd May in cinemas Wes Anderson returns with another typically star-studded comedy, this time tackling the espionage genre in his trademark quirky, pastel-hued style. The mammoth cast is led by Benicio del Toro as a wealthy businessman named Zsa-zsa Korda who, along with his nun daughter Sister Leisl (Mia Threapleton), embarks on a new enterprise and becomes the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists, and determined assassins. Lilo & Stitch Release date: Friday 23rd May in cinemas The 2002 animation becomes the latest Disney property to get the live-action treatment, with Marcel the Shell with Shoes On director Dean Fleischer Camp now the man behind the camera. The plot will be familiar to most: a lonely girl in Hawaii adopts a rogue alien, unaware that he was genetically engineered to be a force of destruction, and is being pursued by aliens after making an illegal escape to Earth. The Ballad of Wallis Island Release date: Friday 30th May in cinemas Tim Key and Tom Basden take on the lead roles in this charming comedy-drama they co-wrote, about an eccentric millionaire (Key) who tries to reunite his favourite folk duo at a private gig on his island Carey Mulligan shines as the former partner –in music and life – of Basden's Herb McGwyer, while Key delivers some brilliant lines in his usual comic persona, making this a film that is both tender and hilarious. The Salt Path Release date: Friday 30th May in cinemas This true-life drama starring Jason Isaacs and Gillian Anderson is based on Raynor Winn's 2018 memoir, following a couple who embark on a year-long coastal trek after suffering numerous setbacks. They had been left homeless after they were evicted from their farm, while Moth (Isaacs) had been diagnosed with a rare–but–seemingly terminal condition, but they find themselves rejuvenated by their walk along England's longest uninterrupted path. Karate Kid: Legends Release date: Friday 30th May in cinemas The sixth film in the Karate Kid franchise – and the first since 2010 – picks up three years after the events of TV spin-off Cobra Kai, with Ben Wang introduced as the main lead. Franchise stars Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio both return, with the synopsis teasing that it follows kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Wang) as he learns from Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso to merge kung fu with karate for the ultimate martial arts showdown. 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 released in the UK this month: April 2025
Highlights include The Amateur, Sinners and Warfare.
Another month is upon us, and April once again sees an interesting selection of new films arrive in UK cinemas – with everything from intense war dramas to high-profile video game adaptations to look forward to. Just a year after his impressive film Civil War debuted to mostly strong reviews, Alex Garland returns with Warfare – this time co-directed with Iraq war veteran Ray Mendoza – which follows a platoon of Navy SEALs in real time as they embark on a mission in enemy territory. Meanwhile, other highlights include the reunion of Black Panther director Ryan Coogler with Michael B Jordan for new horror flick Sinners, quirky comedy Death of a Unicorn starring Jenna Ortega and Richard E Grant, and Ben Affleck's return as accountant-turned-action-hero Christian Wolff for The Accountant 2. There's plenty more to enjoy as well, so to help you pick out the highlights, we've put together a selection of some of the best films to watch this month – check out the video above or read on for our choices. Sponsored by Vue Save up to 30% on the latest releases at Vue in 2025 Are you a movie lover who always wants to be up to date with the latest releases? Then you're in luck, as RadioTimes.com readers can enjoy new films at Vue Cinemas for less. Customers will receive up to 30% off films with Vue Pass, as long as they have a RadioTimes.com account. It's a great time for new releases, with films such as Wicked, Nosferatu, The Brutalist and Moana 2 taking UK cinemas by storm. Head to your nearest Vue to catch these movies and more for up to 30% less if you're signed up as a RadioTimes.com member. Save up to 30% with Vue Pass A Minecraft Movie Release date: Friday 4th April in cinemas Inspired by the mega-hit video game, this comedy adventure boasts a starry cast including Jason Momoa, Jack Black and Jennifer Coolidge – in addition to younger stars Emma Myers and Sebastian Hansen. According to a synopsis, it follows four misfits who find themselves on a magical quest with an unexpected crafter named Steve (Black) after they are pulled into the Overworld by a mysterious portal. Mr Burton Release date: Friday 4th April in cinemas Industry star Harry Lawtey plays iconic thespian Richard Burton – born Richard Jenkins – in this biopic focusing on the actor's early years, which were largely spent in poverty in a Welsh mining village. Toby Jones stars as Mr Burton, the teacher who recognised his talent and took him under his wing, while there is also a key role for Lesley Manville as the teacher's housekeeper Ma Smith. Death of a Unicorn Release date: Friday 4th April in cinemas This quirky A24-produced comedy stars Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega as a father and daughter who accidentally hit and kill a unicorn with their car – which leads to horrendous results after the former's boss attempts to exploit the creature's miraculous curative properties. The film – which boasts Hereditary and Midsommar director Ari Aster as a producer – is the feature debut of filmmaker Alex Scharfman and also includes Richard E Grant, Will Poulter and Jessica Hynes in its starry ensemble cast. Drop Release date: Friday 11th April in cinemas Meghann Fahy leads this mystery thriller from Happy Death Day writer/director Christopher Landon, about a single mother who is given a terrifying ultimatum by a mysterious, hooded stranger while she is on a date. The stranger threatens to kill her young son and sister unless she kills her date – leading to some terrifying scenes as she tries to work out exactly what is going on... The Amateur Release date: Friday 11th April in cinemas Rami Malek plays a CIA cryptographer out for revenge against the terrorists who killed his wife in this spy thriller, which is adapted from the 1981 novel of the same name by Robert Littell. The film also boasts a starry supporting cast including key roles for Laurence Fishburne, Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Michael Stuhlbarg, Holt McCallany and Julianne Nicholson. The Return Release date: Friday 11th April in cinemas Film fans are currently hotly anticipating the release of Christopher Nolan's take on The Odyssey next summer, but first up is this film from Uberto Pasolini which retells the final sections of Homer's epic. Ralph Fiennes leads the cast as Odysseus (who will be played by Matt Damon in the Nolan film), while Juliette Binoche takes on the role of Penelope. Sinners Release date: Friday 18th April in cinemas Writer/director Ryan Coogler re-teams with Michael B Jordan for this supernatural horror film set in Jim Crow-era Southern United States, with the impressive cast also including Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo. There's been a certain degree of secerecy around the exact plot, but we do know that it sees Jordan play troubled twin brothers who return to their hometown with plans to start anew, only to discover that a terrible evil is waiting for them. The Penguin Lessons Release date: Friday 18th April in cinemas This drama – which is based on a true story – sees Steve Coogan playing a British teacher living in Argentina who finds his life unexpectedly changing after adopting a penguin. Set in 1976 and based on Tom Mitchell's memoir of the same name, the film also stars Jonathan Pryce. Warfare Release date: Friday 18th April in cinemas This war thriller is co-directed by Civil War's Alex Garland and Iraq war veteran Ray Mendoza – on whose experiences the narrative is based. The cast includes D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Joseph Quinn, Kit Connor, Michael Gandolfini, Noah Centineo and Charles Melton, who each play members of a platoon of Navy SEALs embarking on a mission through insurgent territory in 2006 – with the film unfolding in real time. The Accountant 2 Release date: Friday 25th April in cinemas Eight-and-a-half years after the first film, Ben Affleck returns for a second outing as accountant-turned-action-hero Christian Wolff – this time teaming up for a new mission with his estranged brother Braxton (the returning Jon Bernthal). The pair are tasked with solving the murder of someone close to Treasury agent Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), which in turn draws the attention of some of the most ruthless killers alive. Until Dawn Release date: Friday 25th April in cinemas This horror flick is adapted from the hit 2015 video game of the same name, with Ella Rubin and Michael Cimino in the starring roles. It tells a standalone story that draws from the game's mythology, following a group of friends who find themselves trapped in an endless time loop, where they are faced with a succession of increasingly terrifying killers only to repeatedly wake up the same morning. 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 released in the UK this month: March 2025
Highlights include Mickey 17, Black Bag and Flow.
March is upon us, and although it's not traditionally a month jam-packed with major releases, there are still some pretty exciting films to look forward to. Highlights include Bong Joon-ho's follow-up to Parasite – the wacky sci-fi flick Mickey 17 – while the ever-prolific Steven Soderbergh returns with his second film of 2025, the starry spy thriller Black Bag. Meanwhile, Oscars season might have come and gone, but one of the big winners is set to arrive in UK cinemas later in the month in the form of Best Animated Feature winner Flow, and Disney fans will be glad to know that the live-action Snow White is also due for release soon. To help you pick out the highlights, we've put together a selection of some of the best films to watch this month – check out the video above or read on for our choices. Mickey 17 Release date: Friday 7th March in cinemas More than five years after his Oscar-winning Parasite took the world by storm, Bong Joon-ho's returns with this long awaited follow-up – a wacky sci-fi tale led by Robert Pattinson in a dual role. Based on the 2022 novel Mickey7 by Edward Ashton, the film sees Pattinson star as a disposable employee – or "expendable" – who is sent on a human expedition to colonise the ice world Niflheim. The starry supporting cast includes Naomi Ackie, Mark Ruffalo, Toni Collette and Steven Yeun. Marching Powder Release date: Friday 7th March in cinemas More than 20 years after The Football Factory, Danny Dyer reunites with director Nick Love for this new film set against the backdrop of football hooliganism and hard drugs – although it is not a sequel to their earlier collaboration. Dyer plays Jack, a middle-aged hooligan who is arrested for drugs and given six weeks to get his life in order – which includes repairing his marriage, curbing his bullying of an in-law, and guiding his wayward stepbrother Kenny Boy. Black Bag Release date: Friday 14th March in cinemas In what is already his second feature of 2025 – after January's Presence – Steven Soderbergh directs this starry espionage flick which boasts Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett and Marisa Abela among its cast. It follows an intelligence agent George Woodhouse, who faces the ultimate test after his beloved wife is suspected of betraying the nation, and has been met with positive early reactions. Opus Release date: Friday 14th March in cinemas This thriller stars The Bear's Ayo Edebiri as a writer who travels to the remote compound of a missing legendary pop star, played by John Malkovich. According to the synopsis, she soon finds herself surrounded by a cult of sycophants and intoxicated journalists, and becomes involved in the middle of his twisted plan. In the Lost Lands Release date: Friday 14th March in cinemas Adapted from a short story by George RR Martin, this epic fantasy from Paul WS Anderson stars Milla Jovovich and Dave Bautista as a witch and a hunter respectively. They must travel to the Lost Lands of the title in search of a magical power that allows a person to transform into a werewolf. Flow Release date: Friday 21st March in cinemas This gorgeous Latvian film was the winner of the Best Animated Feature at the recent Oscars – and is well worth a watch. It follows Cat, whose home is devastated by a great flood and who finds refuge on a boat populated by various species – who have to team up despite their differences. Snow White Release date: Friday 21st March in cinemas Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot lead the cast of Disney's latest live-action reimagining of one of its classic animated gems, which is directed by The Amazing Spider-Man's Marc Webb. Of course, the story will be familiar to most, but this new retelling features some new tunes written by the songwriting team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The Alto Knights Release date: Friday 21st March in cinemas Robert De Niro returns to the gangster genre in this epic crime flick from Barry Levinson, which is set in 1950s New York and sees him play not one but two mob bosses, Vito Genovese and Frank Costello. It follows events after Genovese orders a hit on Costello, and although the latter survives, he is wounded in the attempt and decides to retire from the Mafia. Novocaine Release date: Friday 28th March in cinemas Jack Quaid stars in this action-comedy about a man with an inability to feel pain – who must use this to his advantage to rescue his kidnapped love interest, played by Prey star Amber Midthunder. The End Release date: Friday 28th March in cinemas Tilda Swinton and George MacKay lead the cast of this offbeat apocalyptic musical which follows a rich family two decades after an environmental catastrophe. It is the first fiction film from acclaimed documentary filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer, and also includes Michael Shannon and Moses Ingram in its cast. Sponsored by Vue Save up to 30% on the latest releases at Vue in 2025 Are you a movie lover who always wants to be up to date with the latest releases? Then you're in luck, as RadioTimes.com readers can enjoy new films at Vue Cinemas for less. Customers will receive up to 30% off films with Vue Pass, as long as they have a RadioTimes.com account. It's a great time for new releases, with films such as Wicked, Nosferatu, The Brutalist and Moana 2 taking UK cinemas by storm. Head to your nearest Vue to catch these movies and more for up to 30% less if you're signed up as a RadioTimes.com member. Save up to 30% with Vue Pass 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.