Now here is a confined, tight-quartered feature film unlike any that has come before it. “Whalefall” is a deep-sea survival thriller that spends the majority of its time in (of all places) the belly of a giant sperm whale. The movie is based on a 2023 best-selling novel by Daniel Kraus who co-writes the movie’s script along with director Brian Duffield. 20th Century Studios recently released the official trailer and it looks like one wild ride. But for those who are claustrophobic…beware.

Austin Abrams plays Jay Gardiner, a scuba diver struggling to cope with the loss of his domineering father Mitt (Josh Brolin). His father was a local diving legend who drowned off the coast of California. His body was never found. Hoping to find his dad’s remains, Jay dives in the treacherous waters near Monterey. But disaster strikes when he is swallowed by an enormous 80-foot sperm whale. It leaves him fighting for his survival against sustained injuries, limited oxygen, the darkness, and of course the creature’s digestive system. The movie looks absolutely bonkers. But it also looks like a lot of fun.

“Whalefall” swims into theaters on October 16th. Check out the new trailer and poster below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

Everyone involved with Filmland 2026 knew that August 14th was going to be a huge day. In fact, it was shaping up to be the biggest day in the event’s nine-year history. And that’s saying something considering Filmland has featured an impressive array of special guests from the movie industry. Guests like Richard Linklater, Adam Driver, Jessica Chastain, Margot Robbie, Colman Domingo, Michael Shannon, Jay Duplass, and more.

But August 14th was going to be different. The buzz was louder. The enthusiasm was greater. The energy was off the scale. Local television channels were sharing the big news. Social media accounts were spreading the word. This was looking to be a day unlike any the Arkansas-based Filmland had ever attempted before. And who stood at the epicenter of this seismic local eruption? None other than the equally acclaimed and beloved actor Matthew McConaughey.

For those who may not know, Filmland is an annual curated film festival hosted by the Arkansas Cinema Society. Based in Little Rock, ACS has dedicated itself to growing and nurturing the Arkansas film culture. Much of its focus goes into educating, encouraging and equipping local filmmakers. Co-founder Kathryn Tucker and her team tirelessly work at the local level, planning and organizing events while filmmaker and co-founder Jeff Nichols uses his many industry connections to bring incredible talent to the state he loves. Among those connections is Matthew McConaughey.

To no one’s surprise, there was a ton of excitement at the news that McConaughey was coming to Filmland. But then tickets went on sale, with sponsors and members getting first dibs. I’m not sure how many tickets that left for the public, but they sold out in 90 seconds which ended up souring a lot of people. To help, the Filmland team organized a ‘rush line’ for those unable to get a ticket. It wasn’t ideal, but it was a worthwhile effort to accommodate as many people as possible. And because of it, many more folks were able to share in the experience.

On the day of the event, (fittingly dubbed McConaughey Day), I heeded the advice of an email and arrived early. But apparently so did a couple of hundred other attendees. The large foyer area of the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts was buzzing with activity as people were checking in and lining up to grab the best seats available. Meanwhile the friendly Filmland staff, which this year included well over 100 volunteers, were constantly on the move, answering any questions and steering people in the right direction. Among them was publicist John Wildman who kindly ushered me to my press seat for the first event – a one-on-one conversation between McConaughey and Nichols.

With every seat in the theater taken and an overflow room full of others watching by simulcast, the show finally began and it was well worth the wait. It was an enthralling conversation that covered much of McConaughey’s career but through the lens of the many directors he has worked with. McConaughey spoke about his experiences with the likes of Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg, Richard Linklater, Robert Zemeckis, Joel Schumacher, and of course Jeff Nichols among many others. He talked process, style, and approach. But he also shared countless personal anecdotes that really brought his experiences to life.

After the conversation wrapped, several local dignitaries took to the stage, most looking as starstruck as any of the fans crammed into their seats. They awarded McConaughey with a couple of honors before he was swept to the red carpet where a line of reporters peppered him with questions which he cordially answered with his signature Southern charm. After a small break it was back into the theater where McConaughey was presented with Variety’s Legend & Groundbreaker award which is given for breaking down barriers within the industry.

With the theater once again filled, McConaughey and Nichols introduced the actor’s latest film, “The Rivals of Amziah King”. Without reciting my review (you can read it HERE), the film comfortably sits among the best of the year, and it was great seeing it again, this time with a live audience. Afterwards McConaughey and Nichols came out for a brief Q&A. They took a few questions from the audience, although sadly very few were about the movie we had just watched. Still, it served as a nice conclusion to what was a truly memorable experience.

McConaughey Day was a massive undertaking, and considering the enormous demand and equally huge turnout, the Filmland team pulled it off remarkably well. It’s true that some were disappointed in not being able to attend. Others were bummed that they weren’t able to shake the actor’s hand, get an autograph, or take a picture with him. But if that kind of uncontrolled access had been allowed, McConaughey would probably still be standing in the foyer. There was some confusion and at times it all felt a little overwhelming. But for an event of this size, the Filmland team earned their flowers.

For me, McConaughey Day was about sitting in the room with one of cinema’s most accomplished and beloved actors and hearing him firsthand as he passionately talked about the industry he knows and loves. It was about listening to him express his affection for his new movie and then watching it with a crowd who were all there for the same reason. For most of us, it’s not every day that we get to experience such a thing, especially here in Arkansas. But on August 14th, we did. And we can all thank Filmland for it.

“To Catch a Predator” was a series of reports that aired on the popular news magazine show Dateline NBC. The segments were hosted by investigative journalist Chris Hansen and focused on catching internet predators attempting to meet up with minors for sex. The series was a pivotal yet controversial means of bringing awareness to the growing epidemic of sexual predators on the web. Now director Lance Oppenheim is telling Chris Hansen’s story in his new film “Primetime”.

Set in 2006, “Primetime” tells the origin of “To Catch a Predator” by following Hansen (played by Robert Pattinson) as he aggressively confronts child predators through hidden camera sting operations. The riveting first trailer gives us a good sense of what to expect from this biographical/psychological crime thriller which is set to premiere in September at the Venice Film Festival. Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers, Tony Revolori, and Matthew Maher also star.

“Primetime” opens in theaters on September 25th. Check out the trailer and the poster below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

This month the Insidious franchise returns to the big screen with its sixth installment, “Insidious: Out of the Further”. The film (written and directed by Jacob Chase) seeks to build on the franchise’s box office success, with it having already earned over $740 million to date. “Out of the Further” focuses on a new family while introducing a terror that redefines what the purgatorial realm of lost souls known as The Further is capable of.

With the film set to release in a few weeks, Sony Pictures Releasing has dropped five new character posters focusing on the demonic entities terrorizing a single mother and her young daughter. Amelia Eve, Brandon Perea, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, and Lin Shaye star while horror stalwarts Jason Blum, James Wan, Oren Peli, and Leigh Whannell produce. “Insidious: Out of the Further” releases exclusively in theaters on August 21st.

Check out the killer new character posters below…

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment is bringing “Mortal Kombat II” to home video. This action, fantasy, martial arts mashup is based on the popular, long-running video game series that was created by Ed Boon and John Tobias. It’s a sequel to 2021’s “Mortal Kombat” which served as a fresh reboot with ambitions to take the movie universe even further. “MKII” saw Simon McQuoid return to direct and Karl Urban join the franchise as the fan-favorite character Johnny Cage. And now franchise fans can bring the sequel home.

“Mortal Kombat II” will be available to own July 28th on 4K Ultra HD + Digital Copy . See below for a full synopsis of the film as well as release information including a list of special features.

About the Film:

Year: 2026

Runtime: 116 Minutes

Director: Simon McQuoid

Screenwriter: Jeremy Slater

Cast: Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Tati Gabrielle, Lewis Tan, Damon Herriman, Chin Han, Tadanobu Asano, Joe Taslim, Hiroyuki Sanada

Rated R for strong bloody violence and gore, and language

This time, the fan favorite champions—now joined by Johnny Cage himself—are pitted against one another in the ultimate, no-holds barred, gory battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.

Special Features:

Mortal Kombat II 4K UHD contain the following special features:  

• Mortal Kombat II: Evolving the Saga (Featurette)
  • Returning characters, new alliances and even bigger fatalities! Go behind the scenes to learn all that went into creating the latest chapter in the Mortal Kombat film saga and how the sequel expands the universe to bolder, bloodier heights.
• Building the Realms of Mortal Kombat (Featurette)
  • From the decaying streets of Edenia to the terrifying Pit featured in the iconic video game series, discover how the Mortal Kombat II design teams blended practical sets with groundbreaking VFX to create the legendary realms in the film.
• Mortal Kombat II: Choose Your Fighter (Featurette)
  • Awaken your Arcana as you meet the cast and explore the brutal weapons, epic costumes and fierce training that went into bringing their characters to life.
• Klose Quarters Kombat (Featurette)
  • Cast members and key creatives share insights into how the stunt preparation, intense fight scenes and weapons training shaped both classic moves and new, merciless combat styles.
• A “Boon” to Gamers Everywhere (Featurette)
  • Sit down with chief Mortal Kombat mythmaker and creator Ed Boon for a deep dive into the franchise’s storied history and ongoing evolution that spans three decades of near-infinite games, films and comics, culminating with the live-action sequel.

With the release of his brilliantly made and enormously successful new film “The Odyssey”, Christopher Nolan has once again proven himself to be the most bankable filmmaker working today. After just eleven days the three-hour, R-rated epic has made a staggering $639 million at the global box office. And it’s showing no signs of slowing down. Many projections now have the film easily clearing the $1 billion mark by the end of its theater run.

This is no fluke. Nolan’s extraordinary gift for cinematic storytelling has been evident since his debut feature in 1998. And he has only gotten better over time. His movies have become major events that draw huge audiences. And it doesn’t matter if he’s adapting a massively popular superhero or making a biographical drama of a theoretical physicist. People come for the compelling stories and stunning craftsmanship that have become synonymous with a Christopher Nolan movie.

With “The Odyssey” still dominating theaters, what better time to do an updated ranking of Christopher Nolan’s now thirteen feature films. Impressively, Nolan has yet to make a bad movie so there are no bad movies on this list. But over the years several of his works have stood out over the rest (at least for me). So here is my personal ranking of Christopher Nolan’s oeuvre. Be sure to share your personal favorites in the comments section below.

“Following” easily stands as Christopher Nolan’s smallest, shortest, and least expensive film. Yet even within this underrated debut feature, we get glimpses of the groundbreaking filmmaker he would quickly become. Shot in 16mm black-and-white for roughly $6,000, this neo-noir thriller tells the story of a struggling writer who gets drawn into the criminal underworld after following strangers around the streets of London looking for inspiration for his novel. While the budget limitations do come into play, it remains a compelling watch and an exciting precursor to what was to come.

The psychological thriller “Insomnia” remains the only film in Christopher Nolan’s filmography that he directed yet didn’t write. “Insomnia” is a remake of a Norwegian film of the same name, yet a young Nolan brought his own creative vision to the riveting story about a murder in Nightmute, Alaska. It was a movie of many firsts for Nolan. It was his first studio film and it was his first chance to work with true A-list actors (Al Pacino and Robin Williams). It’s a strong film yet not many people talk about “Insomnia”. Perhaps that’s why Nolan considers it his most underrated movie.

Of all the great films in Christopher Nolan’s catalog, it’s amazing how many hold “The Prestige” in such high regard. And rightly so. It’s truly unlike anything else he has made. The very idea of a period thriller set in the world of illusion featuring Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale as rival magicians sells the movie itself. But what makes it great is Nolan’s impeccable narrative control that keeps us immersed and wondering every step of the way. Stunning visual detail and period-rich atmosphere work hand-in-hand with Nolan’s wily script to make this one of the his more unique films.

The audacious “Memento” could easily be considered the movie that put Christopher Nolan on the map. And it was only his second feature film! The movie sees Nolan teaming with actor Guy Pearce (a duo who I’d love to see collaborate again) to tell a story that took the filmmaker’s love for non-linear narratives to crazy heights. Pearce plays a man with anterograde amnesia who works to piece together clues in hopes of uncovering who murdered his wife. It’s an intensely challenging yet thoroughly rewarding movie that still resonates with its many passionate fans.

With “Batman Begins” Christopher Nolan kicked off his brilliant Dark Knight trilogy with a bang. While the movie is often overshadowed by its universally acclaimed big brother “The Dark Knight”, Nolan’s first foray into the superhero genre immediately turned heads. It gave us a fascinating introduction to the popular DC character that was darkly psychological yet brimming with the kind of superhero action that fans hoped for. But ultimately it was Nolan’s unique vision that gave the classic character and his compelling world an entirely new spin.

Perhaps the most debated Christopher Nolan film is his audacious science-fiction action thriller “Tenet”. It’s definitely Nolan’s most challenging movie, requiring audiences to remain laser-focused if they are to unlock the story’s time-bending puzzle. Some found it too cerebral for its own good. I found it to be an exhilarating experience that paid huge dividends for those who put in the work. It’s also a jaw-dropping visual feast, with action set pieces unlike anything we’ve seen before. I understand the pushback it sometimes gets. But “Tenet” still stands as Nolan’s boldest and most original movie to date.

Christopher Nolan wrapped up his Batman trilogy with a final film that went bigger than either of its two predecessors. And while it may not have reached the immeasurable heights of the second installment, “The Dark Knight Rises” put a satisfying exclamation point on Nolan’s Batman run. It features great character moments, some stunning set pieces, and the same gritty and grounded realism that makes these films still stand out today. “Rises” has a lot of moving parts and they take a while to fall into place. But once they do, we can’t help but be blown away by this sensational finish to a sensational trilogy.

Who on earth would have guessed that a talky three-hour biopic of a theoretical physicist would nearly hit $1 billion at the box office? Yet Christopher Nolan’s absorbing treatment on the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer did just that. With a cast that is top-to-bottom superb, a propulsive script, and some stunning craftsmanship, “Oppenheimer” not only wow’d moviegoers but awards voters too. The film would go on to win seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Nolan’s long overdue first Oscar for directing. Without question, it stands as one of the greatest biopics ever made.

It can best be described as a dystopian science-fiction epic. But in truth, there is a lot more going on at the heart of “Interstellar” than those few words can convey. “Interstellar” is every bit the breathtaking cinematic spectacle you expect from a Christopher Nolan film. But it’s also (arguably) his most heartfelt film. It’s a daring project both visually and conceptually. But it’s the humanity you find at its core that makes it such a compelling entry into the Nolan oeuvre. Now if only we can get a second collaboration between Nolan and his “Interstellar” star Matthew McConaughey.

Some may be tempted scream recency bias. But after three viewings of Christopher Nolan’s latest creation, I can confidently say that “The Odyssey” deserves a place among the filmmaker’s very best work. Tackling Homer’s seminal epic was no easy undertaking. But Nolan transports us to the ancient world, honoring the spirit of Homer’s classic while reinvigorating the tale with his own compelling spin. It’s a colossal movie, fueled by the artistic ambition and technical know-how of a filmmaker at the top of his game. Nolan’s “The Odyssey” is epic in every sense of the word.

I still remember the sheer elation that rushed over me after hearing that Christopher Nolan was directing a World War II film. And boy did he deliver in spades. “Dunkirk” was an astonishing experience that had me completely engrossed in every thrilling second of its runtime. From the mind-blowing spectacle to the heart-wrenching human cost, Nolan brings his audience into the combat with such staggering proficiency, once again playing with time while offering three unique perspectives on the same harrowing event. I’m still in awe of what he pulls off. It’s no wonder Quentin Tarantino calls “Dunkirk” a masterpiece. I agree.

While “Batman Begins” delighted fans by introducing Christopher Nolan’s take on the classic DC character, its sequel, “The Dark Knight” was Nolan’s masterclass on what the superhero genre could be. In my opinion, “The Dark Knight” remains the greatest superhero movie of all time in large part because it transcends the genre. Yet it’s also proudly a Batman movie, with Christian Bale establishing himself as the quintessential Dark Knight and the late Heath Ledger giving us one of the screen’s greatest villain performances as the Joker. Everything in the movie clicks which is big reason why so many rightly consider “The Dark Knight” to be one of Nolan’s very best films.

Christopher Nolan has made a habit of blowing me away with his movies. But none blew my mind quite like “Inception”. And while nearly all of his films have stuck with me to varying degrees, none have left a long-lasting mark like his 2010 mind-bending masterpiece. “Inception” melds together both science-fiction and action, but it’s ultimately a heist movie with a Nolan twist – the heists take place within dreams. The concept is bonkers yet brilliantly realized. And the cast is perfectly in-tune with Nolan’s fearless vision. “Inception” is a film unlike any other, and an accomplishment that could only come from one visionary filmmaker.