Don't Bogart My Blog: Movies Update: ‘Army of the Dead’ and More

May 21, 2021

By Mekado Murphy

Movies Editor

Hey, movie fans!

We're almost at Memorial Day weekend, when studios will try to give the masses good reasons to go back to theaters with films like "A Quiet Place Part II" and "Cruella." We spoke to the "Quiet Place" director John Krasinski about his preparations to release his new movie after more than a year's delay.

But as giant summer preparations are being made for the big screen, some are being made for your home screen as well. Like Netflix's "Fear Street" trilogy, which will be released weekly in July.

Available this week is the Zack Snyder zombies-in-Vegas movie "Army of the Dead," the Toni Collette racing drama "Dream Horse," the Christoph Waltz-directed drama "Georgetown" and much more. Plus, on streaming, we've recommended some stunning new sci-fi films and plenty of titles that you may have missed when they first came out.

Enjoy the movies!

Bryan Derballa for The New York Times

John Krasinski and the Tense Wait for 'A Quiet Place Part II'

It's been more than a year since the film he wrote and directed was originally set for release. Now, as the sequel to the 2018 hit reaches theaters, Hollywood is holding its breath.

By Dave Itzkoff

Jason Henry for The New York Times

'It's Magic What We Do.' Movie Theaters Get Starry-Eyed Once More.

The industry was decimated by the pandemic, with theaters shut across the country and new films delayed by Hollywood studios. But now cinemas are ready to fill up their seats again. Will audiences follow?

By Nicole Sperling

Clay Enos/Netflix

'Army of the Dead' Review: Thieving Las Vegas

Zack Snyder's zombies-in-Vegas extravaganza is an exhausting pivot from brilliant to boring, accomplished to shambolic.

By Jeannette Catsoulis

STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS

Magnolia Pictures

Beyond the Algorithm

'Zappa,' 'Trust Me' and More Streaming Gems

We comb through the streaming services to find some options you might have missed.

By Jason Bailey

RLJE Films

Five Science Fiction Movies to Stream

These recent tales of dystopia and more will keep you pondering.

By Elisabeth Vincentelli

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CRITICS' PICKS

Zeshawn Ali/8 Above

Critic's Pick

'Two Gods' Review: Matters of Life and Death

Zeshawn Ali's documentary is a compelling portrait of a Black Muslim man in Newark who builds caskets and mentors two children.

By Nicolas Rapold

Ana Draghic/Dekanalog

Critic's Pick

'Two Lottery Tickets' Review: Bumbling Friends Win (and Lose) Big

This Romanian comedy takes an unpromising premise and turns it into a humble and humorous journey.

By Kristen Yoonsoo Kim

MOVIE REVIEWS

'New Order' Review: A Revolutionary Nightmare or a Recurring Dream?

The Mexican director Michel Franco delivers a harsh film that doubles back on itself, inverting assumptions about the forces at play.

By Glenn Kenny

'Dream Horse' Review: A Familiar Bet

Toni Collette and Damian Lewis play two underdogs in Wales who invest in a race horse in this comedy-drama ripped from the headlines.

By Glenn Kenny

'Seance' Review: Summoning Trouble with Lipstick and Latin

In Simon Barrett's film, something evil descends upon an all-girls boarding school after a clique of students try to contact the dead.

By Lena Wilson

'This Town' Review: Love and Rifles

This small-town comedy from New Zealand looks at the romance between a country girl and a man accused of killing his family.

By Devika Girish

'When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit' Review: Growing Up, Far From Home

This child's-eye view of a family's flight from Nazi Germany keeps the perils of the adult world at a determined remove.

By Jeannette Catsoulis

'The Dry' Review: Small Town Blues

Eric Bana stars as a cop visiting his hometown and getting embroiled in new murders and old traumas.

By Nicolas Rapold

'Spring Blossom' Review: Youth's Fickle Desires

An alienated teenager finds questionable companionship in this playful coming-of-age romance by Suzanne Lindon, who was in her teens when she wrote, directed and starred in the film.

By Beatrice Loayza

'Georgetown' Review: It's Not a Lie if You Believe It

In Christoph Waltz's film, a grifter takes Washington.

By Calum Marsh

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NEWS & FEATURES

Photo Illustration by Chase Middleton for The New York Times

How a Review Changed Both Sarah Silverman and Our Critic

A.O. Scott critiqued her approach to comedy in a 2005 movie. Now they sit down to talk about what he got right and wrong, and why owning up to mistakes is freeing.

Richard A. Chance

8 Ways a Modern Civil Rights Movement Moved the Culture

From music to movies, canceled podcasts to toppled monuments, our writers take stock of the culture we shared in the year after George Floyd's murder.

Netflix

Binge-Viewing Movies? Netflix Bets on the 'Fear Street' Trilogy.

The streamer hopes that by turning adaptations of the R.L. Stine series into weekly film events, audiences will stay glued to the screen.

By Nicole Sperling

Samuel Goldwyn Film

Australians Took Over Hollywood. Their Own Box Office Had to Wait.

In a rare feat, three locally made movies are the biggest hits in Australia, thanks in part to stars intent on homegrown stories. It only took a pandemic.

By Ashley Spencer