This weekend’s new releases cover a lot of ground: a Ridley Scott survival drama, a long-delayed Looney Tunes movie, two very different horror films and a Saudi-backed historical epic. Here’s what each one is about and who it’s for.
1. The Dog Stars
Ridley Scott adapts a post-pandemic survival story starring Jacob Elordi as a man living in Colorado with his dog and a tough survivalist neighbor. When a mysterious radio signal reaches him while he’s flying his small plane, he sets out to find where it came from. Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin and Guy Pearce co-star. Good for: fans of quiet, character-driven end-of-the-world stories.
2. Coyote vs. Acme
After years of studio drama that almost kept it from ever being released, the live-action/animated Looney Tunes comedy is finally in theaters. Wile E. Coyote, fed up with Acme’s faulty products, takes the company to court. Good for: families, and anyone who grew up on Saturday-morning cartoons.
3. Buddy
Director Casper Kelly, known for surreal cult comedy, turns a children’s TV mascot into a killer in this horror-comedy. Cristin Milioti and Topher Grace star, and Keegan-Michael Key voices Buddy. Good for: horror fans who like it strange and funny.
4. Colony
Survivors are trapped in a sealed building during a bioterror attack, and they soon learn the infected share a hive mind. Whatever one zombie learns, they all know. Good for: anyone who wants a fresh twist on the zombie genre.
5. Desert Warrior
A large-scale historical action film backed by Saudi Arabia. Princess Hind refuses to become the concubine of a ruthless emperor and flees into the desert, where she teams up with a legendary bandit played by Anthony Mackie. Good for: fans of big, old-fashioned epics with sweeping locations.
6. The Whisper Man
Adam Scott and Robert De Niro star in a serial-killer mystery. When a young boy disappears, his father asks his own estranged father for help. He’s a retired detective who once caught a notorious killer linked to the case. Good for: fans of ’90s-style psychological crime thrillers.
7. Her Private Hell
Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive) returns with a surreal, neon-soaked thriller starring Sophie Thatcher and Charles Melton, set in a futuristic city engulfed by a mysterious mist. Expect striking visuals, violence and an unconventional story. Good for: viewers who love bold, arty filmmaking.
Our pick
For a crowd-pleaser, Coyote vs. Acme is an easy choice, and it’s a feel-good story after its rocky road to release. For something more serious, The Dog Stars is the prestige pick of the week.
