Movies to watch this week: Men In Black, Maradona, Venom and more
Our weekly guide to what films to watch in the cinema and on streaming services, freeview and Blu-ray...
Hello, and welcome to our weekly pick of movies that you can feast your eyes upon over the next week – both in the cinema and at home (via freeview channels, streaming and Blu-ray/digital downloads).
With so much movie goodness available across so many platforms – not to mention all the new TV shows on offer – it can be tough planning your viewing schedule. But worry not: below, you’ll find a variety of the latest big screen and home entertainment releases, as well as some of our favourite golden oldies and modern classics that can be found on streaming services and on the traditional telly channels.
So, here’s our round-up of the best movies available to watch between Friday 14 June and Thursday 20 June. And don’t forget to pop back next week for more recommendations.
At the cinema
Men In Black: International
Out now
This soft reboot of the Men In Black franchise says goodbye to Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones and hello to Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, as another pair of MIB agents out to save the Earth from the scum of the universe. The chemistry of the Thor: Ragnarok co-stars elevates the action but, as we write in our review, it doesn’t quite capture the spirit of the original. Emma Thompson and Liam Neeson lend support as Agent O and High T respectively.
Diego Maradona
Out now
A documentary focusing on the infamous Argentinian football legend, this rise-and-fall story zeroes in on his explosive time at Italian club Napoli, the fallout from his “hand of God” goal at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and his strained relationship with his son, Diego Jr. Director Asif Kapadia sifted through a whopping 500 hours of footage to compile a new perspective on Maradona. His previous projects include award-winning docs Senna and Amy, so he’s certainly got form with this kind of thing.
On streaming
Venom
Sky Cinema/Now TV, available now
With Venom making its subscription TV debut this week, now could be a good time to revisit the Spider-Man spinoff, which picked up some poor reviews but defied all expectations to power its way to a $855 million box office haul. Tom Hardy brings some Jekyll and Hyde weirdness to the role of Eddie Brock – a down-on-his-luck journo who bonds with a gooey alien symbiote to become the titular anti-hero. This is the first instalment in a planned shared-universe series featuring Spidey’s supporting characters – next up is Jared Leto’s Morbius, followed by the now greenlit Venom 2.
The Terminator
Netflix, from 18 June
With Terminator: Dark Fate – the sixth instalment in the sci-fi franchise – heading to cinemas this October, Netflix is jumping back to where it all began: 1984’s The Terminator. A short, sharp and inventive cyber-thriller, the film proved to be writer/director James Cameron’s big-screen breakout (no, we’re not counting Piranha II) and made geek icons out of stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton. All three are returning in some capacity for Dark Fate, but will they be able to recapture the magic? We won’t have long to find out.
On the telly
The Jungle Book
BBC 1, Saturday 15 June, 5pm
Director Jon Favreau has been trusted by Disney with bringing one of its most beloved animated features, The Lion King, back to the big screen this summer. And here’s why: The Jungle Book, Favreau’s first Disney remake, is arguably the best one of its kind yet. Not only did it get positive reviews across the board, but it brought in close to $1 billion during its cinema run and cemented the Mouse House’s strategy of reworking its classic toons into modern, big-budget blockbusters. It’s got a cracking voice cast, too: Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong’o and Christopher Walken each lend their distinct tones to the film’s menagerie of iconic animal characters.
Deadpool
Channel 4, Saturday 15 June, 9pm
With the X-Men franchise proper now all wrapped up and talk of a reboot in the not-too-distant future, Ryan Reynolds’ Merc with a Mouth looks set to be the only one of Fox’s Marvel interpretations that will survive the Disney acquisition. And you can tell why. Disney would be mad to mess with a successful formula, as seen in this first outing for the F-bomb spewing, fourth-wall breaking, ultraviolent antihero. On the basis of this, it really is hard to imagine anyone else but Reynolds in the role – one that seems tailor-made for his signature blend of quick wit and kick-ass athleticism.
Men In Black
Film4, Sunday 16 June, 3pm
With the fourth film in the franchise now in cinemas, here’s your chance to revisit where it all began. Natural comedian Will Smith and steely faced Tommy Lee Jones display unlikely odd-couple chemistry in Barry Sonnenfeld’s sci-fi buddy movie, which sees the pair as a couple of MIB agents – one seasoned, one rookie – attempting to save the world from a bug-like intergalactic terrorist. Vincent D’Onofrio, now better known as Daredevil’s Kingpin, steals the show as the baddie’s awkward human host, Edgar – although he’s got some stiff competition from smart-talking alien pug Frank. Film4 is showing this as part of an MIB marathon, followed by MIB II and Men In Black 3 (and after you’ve watched these, read our look back at the behind-the-scenes battles of the MIB trilogy).
On Blu-ray and digital download
Batman Vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Out now
It’s a bit quiet on the new releases front this week, and though this toon crimefighter mash-up has been out for a couple of weeks already, it’s worth catching up with if you haven’t already. The story sees our Heroes in a Half Shall the Turtles head from New York to Gotham City on the trail of Shredder and the Foot Clan, only to find them allied with characters from Batman’s own expansive rogues’ gallery. The film isn’t quite as out-there as you might expect – or want – from a concept like that, but it’s still a lot of fun (check out our review).
Get Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on Blu-ray
If Beale Street Could Talk
Out 17 June
Fresh off his Oscar win for Moonlight, director Barry Jenkins turned his sights to this adaptation of James Baldwin’s novel, which tells the tale of two soulmates divided by grave social injustice. Set in 1970s Harlem, the story follows a pregnant woman named Tish (KiKi Layne) and her efforts to get her artist fiancé Fonny (Stephan James) out of jail after he is framed for a crime he didn’t commit. Spanning from the couple’s childhood friendship to their present predicament, it’s basically a love story, with a scope that feels both epic and intimate at once (you can read our review here). Regina King won this year’s Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her turn as Tish’s mother, Sharon.
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