Anyone who experienced the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 will find no disaster movie more relatable than Emergency Declaration. Directed by Han Jae-rim, this South Korean film goes beyond a typical aviation thriller, offering socially conscious entertainment that explores viral fear and human goodness. It’s a must-see, combining the talents of Song Kang-ho and Lee Byung-hun with a gripping, fast-paced story.

At first, Knives Out looks like a classic mansion mystery, but it’s actually an innovative and experimental film that takes the genre apart and puts it back together in new ways. Director Rian Johnson, known for The Last Jedi, takes on the mystery genre directly. The film features a talented cast, clever humor that comments on itself, and a script that constantly surprises the audience. While it pays tribute to Agatha Christie, it goes beyond simple homage and aims for something more ambitious.

In the middle of the DC Universe’s chaos, a new kind of savior appears. Black Adam isn’t your typical hero; he’s an antihero who stands firm and doesn’t apologize for his actions. While the script and characters have some rough spots, Dwayne Johnson’s strong performance, exciting action scenes, and the interesting JSA members come together to make a movie that’s more entertaining than expected. If you want pure action and excitement instead of deep storytelling, this film is a great choice.

Twenty-five years after The Sixth Sense, director M. Night Shyamalan returns with a new challenge: a psychological thriller set in a single room, focused on a family's ultimate choice. The film’s intense 100-minute runtime is impressive, but its approach to religious themes and changes from the original story have stirred debate, making it a polarizing film. Shyamalan’s trademark visuals and direction remain strong, but the film’s lack of social awareness diminishes its overall impact.

Director Robert Eggers, known for his distinct style in ‘The Witch’ and ‘The Lighthouse,’ tackles a Viking revenge story with a huge $70 million budget. The film brings to life the Norse legend that inspired Shakespeare's ‘Hamlet,’ using intense violence and mythic fantasy. The visuals and historical detail are stunning, but the story structure is divisive, making this a classic Eggers film that sparks debate.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a live-action take on the classic tabletop RPG. It stands out as a high-quality fantasy comedy, even for those who don’t know the original game. The film’s character chemistry is similar to Guardians of the Galaxy, and the jokes feel natural, making it more entertaining than I expected.

When ChatGPT took the world by storm after 2020, an AI horror film emerged that captured the cutting edge of the era. That film is M3GAN. This ambitious work avoids the grotesque horror tropes common in the genre, instead presenting a new form of terror: the runaway consequences of love. While accessible even to horror newcomers, it masterfully balances entertainment with social commentary, embedding sharp critiques of modern society within its narrative.

“TAR” is Todd Field’s first feature film in 16 years, and it’s an ambitious psychological thriller about the fall of the Berlin Philharmonic’s first female principal conductor. The film captures the spirit of the 2020s, especially the rise of cancel culture. Cate Blanchett’s powerful performance and the film’s visual style stand out, but its long runtime and complex structure mean it will mostly appeal to a select audience. By focusing on artistry rather than entertainment, it’s the kind of film that “critics rave about while general audiences are left perplexed.”

The story takes place in 1994 New York, where the Autobots join forces with the animal-shaped Maximals to face Unicron, a planet-eating villain. Fans of the Japanese series “Beast Wars” will be happy to see these characters appear in a Hollywood film for the first time. Director Steven Caple Jr. sets the action seven years after “Bumblebee,” giving the series a new feel. The movie blends old memories with new ideas, but it delivers only about 60% of what fans might hope for.

Travis Block (Liam Neeson) works as a “fixer” for the FBI Director, handling secret missions to save undercover agents and erase their tracks. After one agent, Dusty, claims the FBI is killing innocent people and is then killed while trying to share this with a journalist, Travis joins forces with reporter Mira to find out what’s really going on. They discover a secret program called “Operation Unity.” But when Travis’s own daughter and granddaughter are threatened, the fight becomes personal.