Happy Independence Day! As we settle into the long weekend, we’ve curated a lineup of compelling films to keep you entertained, featuring some of the year’s most notable cinematic successes.
Following its successful theatrical run, Project Hail Mary has officially arrived on Prime Video. Adapted from Andy Weir’s acclaimed novel, the story follows a high school teacher thrust into an extraordinary interstellar mission and the profound bond he forms with an extraterrestrial companion. Think of it as a blend of The Martian and E.T.
Also making waves is Obsession, a breakout hit that defied expectations. Currently available for digital purchase and rental, the film features an “unleashed” edition with 19 minutes of additional footage. This bonus material provides an intimate look at director Curry Barker and his ensemble cast as they transform intense character work into a gripping, high-stakes horror experience.
Other highlights for your watchlist include the biting, satirical thriller Ready or Not 2, the polarizing—yet undeniably terrifying—Lee Cronin’s The Mummy, and the latest installment of the beloved Netflix mystery series, Enola Holmes.
1 Project Hail Mary
- Available on: Prime Video
- Genre: Sci-fi
- Runtime: 2h 36m
- Directors: Phil Lord and Chris Miller
- Cast: Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller
Project Hail Mary translates Andy Weir’s best-selling novel into one of the most significant science fiction achievements of recent years. Marking a triumphant return for directing duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the film centers on Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling), a teacher who finds himself as humanity’s unlikely last line of defense against an encroaching cosmic threat.
In our review, Polygon notes:
“Lord and Miller’s adaptation distills the source material’s dense scientific concepts into accessible exposition, focusing instead on the protagonist’s emotional depth. It creates space for a narrative anchored by Ryland’s unique mix of humor, vulnerability, and sheer brilliance.”
2 Obsession
- Available on: VOD
- Genre: Horror
- Runtime: 1h 48m
- Director: Curry Barker
- Cast: Inde Navarrette, Michael Johnston
After a standout premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, Obsession proved to be an unexpected box office force. This feature debut from Curry Barker follows “Bear,” a man whose desperate yearning for his best friend, Nikki, leads him to use the “One Wish Willow.” The resulting curse transforms his unrequited love into a terrifying, possessive nightmare.
As noted in our review, the film effectively subverts the genre into a supernatural stalker tale, where the object of affection becomes a source of dread.
3 Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
Picking up immediately after the carnage of the first film, this sequel finds Grace facing an even wider conspiracy of twisted, elite families. When they abduct her younger sister to force Grace back into their deadly game, the stakes reach a fever pitch.
4 Crime 101
Heavily inspired by the rhythmic tension of Heat, Crime 101 tracks a seasoned jewel thief (Chris Hemsworth) attempting one final, massive heist before his retirement, all while evading a tenacious detective (Mark Ruffalo) and a dangerous rival (Barry Keoghan).
5 Silent Friend
A critical darling from the Venice Film Festival, Ildikó Enyedi’s Silent Friend weaves an intricate tapestry across three distinct eras—1908, 1972, and 2020—unified by the silent witness of a grand ginkgo tree.
6 Blades of the Guardians
Set against the dying embers of China’s Sui dynasty, this martial arts epic follows a bounty hunter with an unwavering moral compass as he navigates a treacherous journey to deliver a high-profile rebel to the capital.
7 The Get Out
In a crime thriller that evokes the grit of classic cinema, a club owner played by Russell Crowe faces a sudden crisis when his life savings are stolen, forcing him into a desperate path of retribution.
8 Smothered
This psychological horror follows Alif, an artist struggling with amnesia after a traumatic accident. His recovery takes a dark turn when a stranger appears, insisting she is his mother—triggering a harrowing descent into paranoia.
9 Lee Cronin’s The Mummy
When a family’s long-lost daughter is recovered from an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus, their joy turns to terror as they realize she has brought a malevolent, ancient entity back with her.
10 Enola Holmes 3
Millie Bobby Brown returns as the intrepid sleuth in a high-stakes adventure where she must balance her impending wedding to Lord Tewkesbury with the urgent mystery of her brother Sherlock’s kidnapping.
Source: Polygon
