Drama
The Current War: Director’s Cut

Is The Current War electrifying? No, not quite. But it’s got some nice star power.

Action/Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

For fans of this franchise, The Rise of Skywalker works: not necessarily logically, but emotionally.

Comedy, Drama, Kids
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made

The grown-ups in Timmy’s life step up to the plate and strive to teach Timmy about valuing the thoughts and …

Action/Adventure, Animation, Kids
Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution

For some, Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution will feel extraordinarily nostalgic. Others (read: non-fan parents) will likely be thinking … Meh.

Comedy, Drama, Musical, Romance
Stargirl

Based on the YA novel of the same name by Jerry Spinelli, Stargirl is Disney’s latest venture into a coming-of-age …

Documentary, Drama
I Am Patrick: The Patron Saint of Ireland

Patrick’s story is inherently interesting, and for a history/religion wonk like me, pretty engaging.

Action/Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Jumanji: The Next Level

This film feels anything but appropriate for families of young kids—the very audience you’d assume it’s made for.

Drama, War
A Hidden Life

No act of faith is wasted in God’s creative calculus. And sometimes, even hidden lives, hidden sacrifices, are eventually revealed.

Action/Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Wendy

Wendy is an imaginative and, I think, moving rumination on youth and age, dreams and grief.

Action/Adventure, Animation, Kids
Spies in Disguise

The movie’s friendship and self-sacrifice-promoting decoder signals counterbalance its gratuitous guffaws.

Action/Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Kids
Playmobil: The Movie

For some families, Playmobil: The Movie will teeter right on the edge of what’s appropriate for their kids.

Comedy, Drama, Mystery/Suspense
Knives Out

Knives Out layers on a bit more content than your typical Agatha Christie story.

Action/Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Kids, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Frozen II

Frozen II is not a slam-dunk, take-the-whole-fam movie for everyone.

Drama
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Many a movie will make you laugh or cry or think. But very few make you want to be a …

Comedy, Drama, War
Jojo Rabbit

There’s a beauty that shines through this dramedy’s inherent darkness and dysfunction.