Movies

As a Western fan, I honestly think nothing in the last few decades has quite matched Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven. It was huge when it came out, sweeping the awards – Best Picture, Best Director, the works! It really flipped the classic Western on its head, showing a much grittier and more realistic side of the Old West. It’s not just a great Western, it’s one of Eastwood’s best films, and I always wonder what makes it so special compared to everything else out there.

For years, fans have wondered what it’s like to train to become a Starfleet officer. Previously, we’ve only gotten glimpses of cadet life through quick scenes and brief explanations. Now that a show focusing on Starfleet Academy is finally being made, some viewers are disappointed with how it’s been done, particularly the choice to set it in the 32nd century of Star Trek. However, this controversial setting is actually what will make the show relevant and successful for a long time. And there’s another good reason for its potential, too.

Witch Hat Atelier is a captivating story about magic, the emergence of young witches, and how their powers grow during a time of trouble. It’s already a highly anticipated anime for Spring 2026, and it’s utilizing a growing trend in the anime world. This approach could be a major advantage for new series trying to gain popularity, and Witch Hat Atelier seems poised to be one of the most effective examples of it this year.

Following the four original Hunger Games films starring Katniss Everdeen and a prequel about Coriolanus Snow, the series is coming back this year with a new story. This film will center on Haymitch Abernathy (played by Joseph Zada) and his experience winning the 50th Hunger Games. It’s based on Suzanne Collins’ book, Sunrise on the Reaping, but it’s currently unknown if Collins plans to write additional books – and therefore, if more movies will be made – beyond this one.

As a huge action movie fan, I have to say the John Wick franchise, starting back in 2014 with Keanu Reeves, really changed things up. It felt like a breath of fresh air after so many shaky-cam action flicks like the Bourne and Taken movies. John Wick gave us these gorgeous, long takes, letting you see the incredible fight work and stunts. Derek Kolstad came up with the original story, and Chad Stahelski, who co-directed the first one with David Leitch, has steered the series ever since – directing the next three films and maybe even a fifth! But after John Wick: Chapter 4, he surprised everyone with a new project. If you haven’t checked it out yet, the whole series is streaming on HBO Max, and trust me, it’s perfect for a day when you just want to settle in and watch some amazing action.

Most people recognize Taylor Sheridan for his work on the show Yellowstone, but he actually started his career as an actor. He appeared in shows like Veronica Mars as Danny Boyd and Sons of Anarchy as David Hale before transitioning to writing in the early 2010s. His first major film, Sicario, was both a critical and commercial hit.

The best 3DS games proved that handheld gaming could be just as amazing as playing on a home console. Titles like the N64 classic Ocarina of Time – which was ported to the system – and innovative new games like Super Mario 3D Land showed the 3DS had something for everyone and didn’t feel restricted in any way.

The TV show Lost started strong with a fascinating first episode and quickly became known for its realistic characters and puzzling mysteries. The best episodes expertly combined these two elements, making the strange events even more compelling because of the people experiencing them. Lost proves that classic network television can still be as good as – or even better than – today’s streaming shows.

Tom Holland returns as Spider-Man in Brand New Day, his fourth Marvel Cinematic Universe film. This movie focuses on Peter Parker starting a new chapter after the death of Aunt May and the loss of his friends’ memories of him. The cast also includes Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Michael Mando, Sadie Sink, and Mark Ruffalo.

The Academy Award-winning actor most recently played Hermann Göring, a Nazi official, in the film Nuremberg, which came out in the US in November 2025. While it didn’t initially do well at the box office domestically, the war movie later gained popularity and ultimately earned $56 million worldwide.