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It was a jam-packed weekend at the movies. We had big theatrical releases as well as a big streaming film. Below is my take on all the new films this week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

Christy (Theaters)
Starring: Sydney Sweeney and Ben Foster
Synopsis: A lot of our greatest heroes in sports have had to overcome obstacles to thrive. Sometimes it’s an abusive or neglectful family. Sometimes it’s an abusive or controlling partner. In the new biopic Christy—which tells the story of boxer Christy Martin—it was both. The film picks up in the early 1990s as Christy (Sweeney) is struggling to find her place. She’s a gifted athlete, but she doesn’t fit the mold her mother (Merritt Wever) had in mind for a daughter. That puts her at odds with a family that’s anything but supportive. Still, she finds a place in the boxing ring where her skill draws the eye of training Jim Martin (Foster). Under the guise of making her a boxing star, Jim begins to control Christy’s life. Even when she tries to break away, he finds a way to pressure her into continuing to fight—and earn—for him. He even pressures her into a marriage as he seeks to manage, direct, control, and manipulate her career. The fact Christy doesn’t love him and is more attracted to women seems beside the point. When Christy, after years of abuse, reaches a breaking point, Jim takes things even further. Can she fight to survive and create the life she really wants? This biopic is based on the true story. Those familiar with Christy and her career will know where this is going. It isn’t about the destination so much as the journey. It’s about telling her story. Director David Michod does a nice job of capturing the period and some of the action in the ring. The film is probably at its most lively during the fight sequences that showcase Christy’s aggressive and brash style. Some of those sequences are fun and will likely be appealing to fans of a good sports film. But mostly, this is a look at Christy’s broken and abusive relationship with Jim. While Foster does a nice job embodying the role, it’s not a nice character. And it’s not a pleasant story to watch unfold. That’s especially true of the latter section, where we leave the ring behind. Sweeney does a nice job in the lead role. It’s been a strong 2025 that has showcased her range in some different and difficult parts. I thought she was one of the best parts of Eden, released this summer, and she’s probably the best part of this film, too. She pours herself into the role and thrives as a survivor fighting for what she wants at every turn despite pressure and manipulation from those closest to her. The third act, which chronicles the real-life events that proved a turning point for Christy Martin, are dower and difficult to watch. The resolution is somewhat satisfying, but the film mostly drops the happier notes of Christy’s story into the credits. That’s a bad beat after spending more than two hours immersed in this world. The film feels too long, especially with the somewhat abrupt ending to the story. It feels true to the events but could have been crafted in a more engaging way. It’s a good performance with some good moments, but just OK as a finished product. Christy is now playing in theaters.
Rating: Rated R for language, violence/bloody images, some drug use and sexual material.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

Die My Love (Theaters)
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, and Sissy Spacek
Synopsis: Motherhood can be a beautiful and wonderful thing. But with the swell of hormones and emotions, along with the stress of becoming a parent, it can take a toll on the women who give birth. That’s something that’s explored in depth in Lynne Ramsay’s new film Die My Love, which opens Friday. The film is based on the book of the same name from Ariana Harwicz. It’s based on a script from Ramsay, Enda Walsh and Alice Birch. It made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival and now is getting a wide release to audiences. The film focuses on a couple who move to from the big city to a farm in rural Montana. It’s the home of Jackson’s (Robert Pattinson) uncle who recently passed. It’s isolated and remote, but Grace (Jennifer Lawrence) is in love and wants to make it work. As a writer, she can ply her skills anywhere. Soon, Grace ends up pregnant. It’s a time of big transition as they prepare for the birth of their child. Jackson’s family, including his mother (Sissy Spacek), are local and there for support. But the birth changes things for Grace. She begins to struggle with the isolation and the strain of parenthood. She begins to lose herself and her identity. And it begins to take a toll on her relationship with Jackson. Though he and others try to offer support, the struggle for Grace is one inside that they can’t reach. Will it consume her and her relationship? We talk a lot about the beauty of giving birth and becoming a parent. And it is a beautiful thing. But, for many, it also brings a struggle. Post-partum depression is a real and difficult thing to grapple with. That’s at the heart of the focus of this film. I have never experienced what Grace has gone through. I will never feel what she’s felt. But this film does a beautiful job of trying to convey the difficulty of that struggle and what it does to someone’s emotions, mental state, and their world. At the heart of this film is a tremendous performance from Lawrence. Lawrence was given the book and her production company championed bringing it to the screen. You can tell this is a deeply personal passion project. That passion and commitment comes through every frame. It’s a moving, intense, and raw portrait of this woman. It’s an incredible performance from a great actress, and one of the best performances of the year so far. There are some good supporting performances, too. Pattison has a tough and somewhat thankless role here, but he does a nice job playing off Lawrence. I also really enjoyed Spacek. She only has a few scenes, but I thought she was good opposite Lawrence and really added depth to the film. Ramsay does a wonderful job bringing this to life. There is a surrealist aspect to much of this as we explore the struggle in Grace’s mind and soul. The imagery is vivid, and it brings the story to life in a rich and moving way. It’s difficult material and a difficult journey, but the way it’s constructed keeps you in the moment. It takes a tough topic and brings it to life in an engaging way. For those who enjoy great performances and great art, it’s worth making a point to check out this film as it opens this week. Die My Love is now playing in theaters.
Rating: Rated R for sexual content, graphic nudity, language, and some violent content.
Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five

Frankenstein (Netflix)
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, and Christoph Waltz
Synopsis: This new film for Netflix is an adaptation of the classic Mary Shelley novel. It comes from Guillermo del Toro, who brings the novel to life in a rich, new way. We begin by seeing the story of Dr. Frankenstein (Isaac), who has latched on to new science. He finds a backer (Waltz) and works on piecing together his masterpiece. Finally, his creature (Elordi) comes to life. But it isn’t what he expected. He tries to end the experiment, but his creature survives. We then learn how the Creature survived, and what motivated him to move forward. This is a great adaptation. Del Toro does a nice job of bringing it all to life, with a great look and great craft here. He excels at building the gothic worlds for these kind of monster tales, and this one works well. I really enjoyed the performance from Elordi as the creature. He is probably the strongest part of the ensemble, though the whole cast is solid. This is a well-made tale that should be a player come awards season. It’s now streaming on Netflix.
Rating: Rated R for bloody violence and grisly images.
Verdict: Four stars out of five

Predator: Badlands (Theaters)
Starring: Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and Elle Fanning
Synopsis: It’s been nearly 40 years since the Predators first appeared on screen. At that point, they were just a perfect killing machine. But in the years and films since, their role has evolved. Still, it’s fair to say Predators have never been depicted quite like they are in Predator: Badlands, which opens Friday. The film comes from director Dan Trachtenberg, who co-created the story with screenwriter Patrick Aison. Trachtenberg has steered the franchise for the past three years, re-launching it with the streaming film Prey. That film worked, in part, because it hid its connection to the franchise. But with the first theatrical return since 2018, he wanted something bigger. It’s also something with a new perspective. In past works, the Predators have been the foe, while the film focused on the human characters doing battle. But in this latest work a Predator—Dek (Schuster-Koloamatangi)—is the hero. The film launches with Dek, considered a runt and a weakness among his clan, on his home world. His one champion is his brother, Kwei (Michael Homick). Despite orders to end Dek, Kwei makes it possible for him to take on a hunt to prove himself. But Dek doesn’t pick an easy path. He chooses a deadly planet home to a nearly unkillable creature. After a rough landing, he begins his hunt but it’s clear the planet and its many dangers present significant challenges. But he finds help. There, among the weeds, is Thia (Fanning). She’s a synthetic sent to scout and learn about the creatures on the planet. She’s damaged but may hold the key to Dek completing his quest. So, an unlikely partnership forms. You get a sense of the plot from the trailer, but there is a lot more depth to it I won’t spoil here. But suffice to say this is a deep and engaging journey. It’s also something of an incredible spectacle. Trachtenberg wanted something epic for the big screen return, and this film certainly delivers on that hope. If you’re a fan of action films, this will be a lot of fun. There are some epic fights and some great sequences. This is a film that works beautifully on a premium formats (I saw in on XD) thanks to the world-building and great action sequences. But what puts it over-the-top is the story. There are moments of humor and heart. Schuster-Kolomatangi and Fanning play off each other well. I was invested in their relationship and their journey. The film does an amazing job of getting you in the mind of our Predator lead and making you root for him, something that puts a big spin on the franchise. Trachtenberg has brought a lot to the Predator franchise. His first film was a delight, but this might be even better. And it certainly leaves the door open to a continuation of these stories, which would be a welcome addition to the cinematic landscape. If you’re looking for something epic and engaging this November, Predator: Badlands is the ticket. It’s a great ride and an engaging film that is the best of the franchise so far. Predator: Badlands is now playing nationwide.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for sequences of strong sci-fi violence.
Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five