We recommend: The best new movies and TV series
A Real Pain: Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin star in this comedy-drama about cousins David and Benji Kaplan, who reconnect to go on a Holocaust tour of Poland—in memory of their grandmother. But as they uncover more details of their Jewish family history at their ancestral home, age-old tensions bubble to the surface. Eisenberg is also the writer and director for this buddy road movie—it’s his sophomore effort.
Reviews are excellent. Hollywood Reporter says Eisenberg “demonstrates impeccable judgment and great skill at balancing sardonic wit with piercing solemnity in a movie full of feeling”. The Guardian concurs: “The movie affects a cool, sauntering tonal balance, teetering between the trivial and the world-historically important, with even the title glancing at the idea of someone being annoying…or experiencing authentic suffering.” Our take: ‘Roman Roy with Mark Zuckerberg’ is not an onscreen combo we ever expected to see, but we’re here and seated. Watch it in theatres now!
Back in Action: Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz pair up—for the third time—for this espionage action-comedy. The plot is as follows: After years of being together—like starting a family etc—the couple are ousted and have to go back to living their dangerous days of CIA spies. From the looks of the trailer, it looks like an action-filled roller coaster ride!
Reviews are alright. IndieWire sees Back in Action as being more notable for the "preexisting goodwill" of seeing Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz return to the screen. The Observer praises the movie for the pair’s "captivating, charming" performances, making Diaz’s return "nice to see," even if the plot feels "overwritten." Our take: The movie reminds us of Cameron Diaz’s ‘Charlie’s Angles’ and ‘Day and Night’ days. Watch it on Netflix.
Azaad: Bollywood nepo babies’ season is upon us. This one’s launching Ajay Devgn’s nephew Aaman Devgn and Raveena Tandan’s daughter Rasha Thadani in a pre-independence drama. The plot focuses on a stable boy training an unstable horse named Azaad. Ajay Devgn also plays a small role of a dacoit—with Diana Penty playing his love interest.
Reviews are average. The Hindustan Times highlights the film as a heartfelt attempt, especially thanks to the horse Azaad, who "steals the show" with his captivating presence, while debutants Aaman Devgan and Rasha Thadani "manage to leave a mark." The Indian Express notes that Aaman Devgan and Rasha Thadani "show promise" and the film features "a gripping climax" with a race similar to the "cricket match in ‘Lagaan’," adding to the nostalgic appeal of the film. Our take: Our eyes are on the newest starkids. See it in the cinemas.
The Roshans: Directed by Shashi Ranjan, this four-part Netflix docu-series takes a deep dive into the legacy of the Roshan family. Starting with Roshan Lal Nagrath’s musical brilliance, the series traces Rajesh Roshan’s iconic melodies, Rakesh Roshan’s transformation from actor to hit director, and Hrithik Roshan’s rise to superstardom. Featuring candid interviews with Bollywood heavyweights like Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali, it offers a nostalgic look at three generations of cinema that have left an indelible mark on Indian entertainment.
Reviews are good. The Hindu finds the docu-series a "saccharine recollection" that offers a "comfortable trip down memory lane.” The Indian Express notes that the series reveals the family's underappreciated contributions to Hindi cinema, with "straight-up access" to key figures and "fulsome praise" for their achievements. Our take: Watch it for a nostalgic and intimate look at the Roshan family's cinematic legacy. Stream it on Netflix now.
Lovers Anonymous: This Turkish comedy series dives into the world of love with a quirky twist. Cem, a man whose childhood left him jaded about romance, runs a “Love Hospital” to help people cure their “love disease.” Enter Hazal, a passionate believer in the magic of love, whose arrival flips Cem’s carefully ordered world upside down. Played by Halit Ergenc and Funda Eryiğit, the duo’s dynamic explores whether love is a curse or the ultimate cure. With a touch of humor and a dash of heart, this series asks the big question: does love save or destroy?
Reviews are good. DMTalkies finds the series intriguing for its unique concept of a "love hospital" dealing with heartaches: "the series tries to offer something new to its audience, and that’s commendable.” Leisurebyte praises the character development, which makes one “want to keep watching the show,” and “want to know what will happen to [the characters’] story after this because this cannot be the end of their story.” Our take: The series delivers a fresh, offbeat look at modern love with humor and heart. You can watch it on Netflix.
Here’s a new chapter…
Severance Season 2: This mind-bending show is a modern commentary on work-life balance. The thriller focuses on four Lumon Industries’ employees Mark, Helly, Irving and Dylan—whose professional lives (called innies) are “severed” from their domestic life (termed ‘outies’). The last season left us on a cliffhanger where their professional selves are about to reveal the secrets of the company. You can tune into the new episodes on Apple TV+—which will update every Friday.
Paatal Lok Season 2: Paatal Lok Season 2 heads to Nagaland, where Inspector Hathi Ram Chaudhary (Jaideep Ahlawat) and ACP Imran Ansari (Ishwak Singh) tackle the murder of a powerful businessman-politician, Jonathan Thom. With new faces like SP Meghna Barua (Tillotama Shome) and authentic Northeast voices, the season dives into the region’s cultural and political depths, delivering twists, secrets, and sharp commentary on greed, morality, and corruption. Head to Amazon Prime to catch the latest chapter.
XO, Kitty Season 2: This is season two of the spin off series of the ‘To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before’ films that focuses on the youngest Covey sister Kitty. In the previous season, we saw her move to South Korea to find out more about her mom and to attend the Korean Independent School of Seoul (KISS) with her long distance boyfriend Dae. But then she falls for his roommate Min Ho. This season picks up from there. You can stream the new episodes on Netflix.
Fresh off the big screen…
Unstoppable: This is a biopic on Anthony Robles (played by Jharrel Jerome)—who won a NCAA wrestling title in 2011. The catch: He was born with just one leg. The film captures his aggressive training, his relationship with his mum (played by JLo) and the lead up to his win. The movie marks the directorial debut of Oscar-winning Argo editor William Goldenberg. Catch it on Amazon Prime.
