This Friday, the box office offers an array of films featuring Will Smith’s safe bet with a new ‘Bad Boys’ sequel, Richard Linklater’s surprising criminal comedy ‘Hit Man’, Anthony Hopkins portraying Sigmund Freud, and M. Night Shyamalan introducing his daughter’s directorial debut.
‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’
Following the 2022 Oscars incident involving Chris Rock, Will Smith makes a return with the fourth installment of the ‘Bad Boys’ series, the action-comedy saga that catapulted him to stardom in the 90s. Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who helmed the 2020 sequel, this film continues to explore the dynamic chemistry between Smith and his co-star Martin Lawrence, a combination first brought to life by Michael Bay in the 90s.
‘Hit Man’
Renowned for ‘Boyhood’ and the romantic trilogy starting with ‘Before Sunrise’, Richard Linklater delves into the crime comedy genre with ‘Hit Man’. Starring Glenn Powell, the film narrates the story of a police informant navigating through his various identities. Based on a true story, the film blends comedy, noir, and psychological thriller elements to create a labyrinthine and humorous experience for the audience.
‘The Watchers’
Ishana Shyamalan, daughter of ‘The Sixth Sense’ creator M. Night Shyamalan, debuts as a director with ‘The Watchers’. This horror thriller, starring Dakota Fanning, is adapted from A.M. Shine’s novel and follows Mina, a 28-year-old artist stranded in a forest in western Ireland. She and three strangers are stalked nightly by mysterious creatures, creating a chilling narrative.
‘The Last Session’
Set on the brink of World War II, ‘The Last Session’ features Anthony Hopkins as Sigmund Freud in a fictional meeting with writer C.S. Lewis. Directed by Matt Brown, the film imagines a conversation between Freud and Lewis, discussing themes such as God, love, sex, and the meaning of life, amidst the looming threat of war with Germany.
‘Ex-Husbands’
American filmmaker Noah Pritzker enlists Griffin Dunne, known for classics like ‘After Hours’ (1985) and ‘An American Werewolf in London’ (1981), in this comedy about a father facing a midlife crisis at 60. The protagonist, long identified by his roles as husband and father, must reinvent himself after his wife (Patricia Arquette) demands a divorce and his adult children (James Norton and Miles Heizer) face their own life challenges.
‘Lassie: A New Adventure’
The beloved collie Lassie returns in a new film directed by German filmmaker Hanno Olderdissen. ‘Lassie: A New Adventure’ sees the iconic dog embark on a rescue mission with her best friend Flo to uncover the mystery behind the disappearance of several pedigree dogs.
‘The Worst Ones’
Directors Lise Akoka and Romane Gueret explore the harsh and dysfunctional realities of modern adolescence in their debut film ‘The Worst Ones’. The story follows four teenagers selected for a film, navigating social media, romantic disappointments, drugs, and online sex. The film won the Un Certain Regard Grand Prize at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, highlighting its critical acclaim.
‘Paradise is Burning’
Swedish director Mika Gustafson’s ‘Paradise is Burning’ won the Best Director award in the Horizons section of the Venice Film Festival. The film follows three sisters, aged 7 to 15, who live alone after being abandoned by their mother. When social services demand a family meeting, the eldest sister, Laura, devises a plan to find a replacement for their mother, showcasing the struggles and resilience of the young siblings.