Contributor: Emily Tsiao

Emily studied film and writing when she was in college. And when she isn’t being way too competitive while playing board games, she enjoys food, sleep, and geeking out with her husband indulging in their “nerdoms,” which is the collective fan cultures of everything they love, such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate and Lord of the Rings.

Descendants: The Rise of Red

As a standalone film, ‘The Rise of Red’ is one of the weaker—and more problematic—stories in the larger ‘Descendants’ franchise.

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Sunny

While the intrigue of the mystery may draw some viewers in, most would be better served putting Apple TV+’s Sunny to sleep.

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On the Radar: Melatonin Gummy Misuse, Noplace, and ‘Performative Friendships’

Can you become too reliant on melatonin? What’s going on with Noplace, the new social media app? And what are “performative friendships”?

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Star Trek: Prodigy

Designed with kids in mind, this animated Star Trek show might have some parents over the moon.

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Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

If you were hoping Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F would reboot the franchise in a family-friendly manner, you’ll be disappointed.

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On the Radar: The ‘Heatwave Freezer Hack’, ‘Sadfishing’ and Drowsy Driving Teens

Does the “heatwave freezer hack” work? What is “sadfishing”? And how many teens are driving while drowsy?

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Supacell

Supacell brings awareness to sickle cell in this creative superhero narrative from Netflix. But the show itself can be a bit fickle.

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Cabrini 2024

Cabrini

Cabrini isn’t an easy film. But for families looking for a faith-based biographical drama, the story of Francesca Saverio Cabrini, is deeply inspiring.

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On the Radar: ‘Blue Light Stare’, ‘Hot Rodents’ and Proven Ways to Curb Screen Time

What are ‘hot rodents’ and the ‘blue light stare’? And which screen time curbing tactics have actually proven effective?

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Big City Greens

Big City Greens is genuinely sweet and funny. And while it’s probably navigable for some families, it’s certainly not a home run.

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House of the Dragon

If the idea of a Game of Thrones prequel had you groaning preemptively, you were right in doing so.

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Parental Controls: TikTok

How to set up Family Pairing on your teenager’s TikTok account and create a “view-only” experience for your kids and tweens.

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Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

Although strong family ties play an important role in this sequel, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire still warrants caution for most families.

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On the Radar: Teens’ Views on Video Games, Social Media Impact on Streaming and Why Kids Reject Mom’s Advice

What do teens know about the negative effects of video games? Kids use social media to find new movies. And should you be worried if your child rejects your advice about school?

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The Boys

Amazon’s dark and cynical homage to superheroes is neither super, nor heroic.

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