The June List: Movies and TV
everything I've watched in May and June
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As an entertainment journalist and film critic, I watch a lot.
As much as I would love to write about every single film and TV show I’ve seen, this bi-monthly roundup will just end up being too long, too dull, and, ultimately, ridiculous. So, from now on, this will be an edited roundup of new releases and a brief summary of older classics I’ve ticked off my watchlist. And, as the resident entertainment recommender within my family and friend group, I’ve been told I rarely miss!
I can’t resist a film about American politics, so May began with a rewatch of Harrison Ford’s Jack Ryan films, Patriot Games (1992) and Clear and Present Danger (1994), continuing with Clint Eastwood in In the Line of Fire (1993), Ted Kennedy disater film Chappaquiddick (2017), and a first time watch of Shock and Awe (2017). I’ve wanted to watch The Contender (2000) for years, and it was finally made available on Prime Video. Joan Allen’s performance was incredible, and Jeff Bridges might be my new favourite movie President. I didn’t stop there, I completed my political month with Cuban Missile Crisis drama Thirteen Days (2000), Robert Redford’s Lions for Lambs (2007), and Spielberg’s incredibly moving biopic Lincoln (2012), which was remarkable.
Aside from catching up with new releases in June, I watched a bunch of films that have lived on my watchlist for far too long, and, I’m pleased to say, I loved them all: The China Syndrome (1979), Capote (2005), Rain Man (1989), M3GAN (2022), Moana (2016), and Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974).
The new releases I’ve seen are: Babygirl (2024); Black Bag (2025); Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy (2025); Borderline (2025); A Complete Unknown (2024); Death of a Unicorn (2025); Ex-Husbands (2023); Flight Risk (2025); G20 (2025); Locked (2025); Salem’s Lot (2024), Werewolves (2024), Wolf Man (2025), Nonnas (2025), Novocaine (2025), Opus (2025). I loved Nonnas and A Complete Unknown, but most of the others were disappointing.
There’s been a lot of TV watching in May and June, as you will see below, and the beginning of the year was no different. I watched: Based on a True Story (S2); High Potential (S1); Dope Thief (Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura are such a great duo); Paradise (bonkers but addictive, I loved it); Prime Target (sorry but maths will never be sexy); Netflix’s first original medical drama Pulse (S1); Reacher (S3); Sirens; The Stolen Girl; Surface (S2); The White Lotus (S3), and the final season of You (it feels wrong to say I’m going to miss Joe Goldberg, but I will).
THE ACCOUNTANT 2 | 2025 | Director: Gavin O’Connor | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: Christian Wolff applies his brilliant mind and illegal methods to reconstruct the unsolved puzzle of a Treasury chief's murder.
CAST: Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal, J. K. Simmons, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Daniella Pineda
VERDICT: The Accountant is a film I never thought would get a sequel. But, thankfully, it’s happened and, this time, it’s given us Jon Bernthal starring opposite Affleck as his estranged brother. The film isn’t as polished as its predecessor, but it heavily leans into the brotherly banter, comedy duo trope, which gives the film its edge. Very fun and enjoyable. I hope to see Affleck and Bernthal team up again in the future.
THE AMATEUR | 2025 | Director: James Hawes | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: When his supervisors at the CIA refuse to take action after his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack, a decoder takes matters into his own hands.
CAST: Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Jon Bernthal, Holt McCallany, Laurence Fishburne
VERDICT: This is a standard action thriller that would feel right at home in the early 2000s. Though the film suffers from a rushed storyline and not enough investment in its characters and core relationship, the cast is good. Plus, all films benefit from a Jon Bernthal cameo. A decent but forgettable watch.
DROP | 2025 | Director: Christopher Landon | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: A widowed mother's first date in years takes a terrifying turn when she's bombarded with anonymous threatening messages on her phone during their upscale dinner, leaving her questioning if her charming date is behind the harassment.
CAST: Meghann Fahy, Brandon Sklenar, Reed Diamond, Ed Weeks
VERDICT: Fahy is the reason to check out Drop. The White Lotus standout is fantastic in this whodunnit thriller. The suspense is great, the concept intriguing, and the twists and turns handled well. A solid watch.
ECHO VALLEY | 2025 | Director: Michael Pearce | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: Kate is dealing with a personal tragedy while owning and training horses in Echo Valley, an isolated and picturesque place, when her daughter, Claire, arrives at her doorstep, frightened, trembling and covered in someone else's blood.
CAST: Julianne Moore, Sydney Sweeney, Domhnall Gleeson, Fiona Shaw, Kyle MacLachlan
VERDICT: A quiet thriller featuring magnificent performances from its talented cast. However, the story is somewhat lacklustre and infuriating, and doesn’t quite match the skill of the three leads. Good, but not great.
FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES | 2025 | Directors: Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: Plagued by a recurring violent nightmare, a college student returns home to find the one person who can break the cycle and save her family from the horrific fate that inevitably awaits them.
CAST: Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, Richard Harmon, Owen Patrick Joyner, Rya Kihlstedt, Anna Lore, Gabrielle Rose, Brec Bassinger, Tony Todd
VERDICT: The franchise that scarred an entire generation is back, and the kills are better than ever. This is a fresh and over-the-top approach to the genre and a lovely farewell to horror legend Tony Todd. It’s brutal, it’s dumb, it’s fun. I enjoyed every second of it, and I’m glad the series has returned.
HEART EYES | 2025 | Director: Josh Ruben | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: When two co-workers have to survive the Heart Eyes killer on Valentine's Day, the two have to find out who it is.
CAST: Mason Gooding, Olivia Holt, Michaela Watkins, Jordana Brewster, Devon Sawa
VERDICT: This is a fun concept and, despite my reservations, I was completely invested in the couple’s night of terror. Gooding and Holt have believable chemistry, and Brewster is clearly having a lot of fun. This strange mix of horror and rom-com surprisingly works.
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING | 2025 | Director: Christopher McQuarrie | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: Ethan Hunt and the IMF team continue their search for the terrifying AI known as the Entity - which has infiltrated intelligence networks all over the globe - with the world's governments and a mysterious ghost from Ethan's past on their trail.
CAST: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Henry Czerny, Janet McTeer, Holt McCallany, Nick Offerman, Hannah Waddingham, Angela Bassett, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, Charles Parnell
VERDICT: An epic conclusion with stunning action sequences and a surprisingly emotional arc. As a huge Mission: Impossible fan, I loved it. Tom Cruise climbing onto a plane in mid-air—bitch, this is cinema.
MOUNTAINHEAD | 2025 | Director: Jesse Armstrong | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: Four friends reunite during worldwide economic turmoil.
CAST: Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Cory Michael Smith, Ramy Youssef
VERDICT: Infused with bite and wit, Armstrong’s first feature is a hoot. The cast is hilarious and the script polished; however, the second act becomes a bit tedious (20 minutes could easily be shaved off), later accelerating in the final act to a wickedly funny finale. While not appointment viewing like Succession, it’s an enjoyable and topical dark comedy.
SINNERS | 2025 | Director: Ryan Coogler | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.
CAST: Michael B. Jordan, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell, Delroy Lindo, Hailee Steinfeld, Wunmi Mosaku, Buddy Guy
VERDICT: Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Absolutely worth the hype, and the soundtrack has been on permanent repeat in my house ever since. It’s one of the best films of the year, and I hope it’s not overlooked by the Academy next year. See this now!
STRANGE DARLING | 2023 | Director: JT Mollner | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: Nothing is what it seems when a twisted one-night stand spirals into a serial killer's vicious murder spree.
CAST: Willa Fitzgerald, Kyle Gallner, Steven Michael Quezada, Ed Begley Jr., Barbara Hershey
VERDICT: I went into this completely blind, and my experience was all the better for it. I’ve become a big fan of Fitzgerald in recent years and she shines here. This indie gem has twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat, and impressive cinematography by first-time DoP Giovanni Ribisi. A fun ride.
WARFARE | 2025 | Director: Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: A platoon of Navy SEALs embark on a dangerous mission in Ramadi, Iraq, with the chaos and brotherhood of war retold through their memories of the event.
CAST: D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Joseph Quinn, Kit Connor, Michael Gandolfini, Noah Centineo, Charles Melton
VERDICT: The severely underrated Garland and former Navy Seal Mendoza have teamed up to bring this modern-day horror to life. Based solely on Mendoza and his platoon’s respective memories, this is a visceral gut-punch of a film. The sound design is exquisite, the performances from its diverse cast faultless—it will probably do for war what Requiem For A Dream did for drugs.
ADOLESCENCE | Mini-Series | Netflix | 2025 | Director: Philip Barantini | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: When a 13-year-old is accused of the murder of a classmate, his family, therapist and the detective in charge are all left asking what really happened.
CAST: Owen Cooper, Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters, Faye Marsay, Christine Tremarco, Amelie Pease, Erin Doherty
VERDICT: The best show of the year. It’s a masterpiece. Brilliantly written, masterfully directed, and impeccably acted—if you’re one of the few who haven’t watched it yet, do so now. You won’t regret it.
THE BEAR | Season 4 | FX | (2022-present) | Showrunner: Christopher Storer | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: A young chef from the fine dining world returns to Chicago to run his family's sandwich shop, with dreams of turning it into a Michelin star-worthy restaurant along with his friends and family.
CAST: Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, Abby Elliott, Matty Matheson, Edwin Lee Gibson, Corey Hendrix, Oliver Platt, Molly Gordon
VERDICT: The gang are back and Storer rightfully creates space for every character to get their due. The cast is perfect as always, the music is tremendous, and the season finale is unexpected yet intriguing for the show’s future. Still one of the best shows on TV.
THE BETTER SISTER | Prime Video | 2025 | Showrunners: Olivia Milch and Regina Corrado | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: Chloe navigates life with husband Adam and son Ethan while her sister Nicky battles addiction. Adam's murder unveils long-hidden family secrets, shaking their world.
CAST: Jessica Biel, Elizabeth Banks, Corey Stoll, Kim Dickens, Maxwell Acee Donovan, Matthew Modine, Lorraine Toussaint
VERDICT: This show is mental but oh so addictive. Biel and Banks shine, and how the show unravels its mystery is its greatest strength. I definitely recommend this knotty family drama/thriller.
DEPT. Q | Season 1 | Netflix | (2025-present) | Showrunner: Scott Frank | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: Carl, a former top-rated detective, is wracked with guilt following an attack that left his partner paralysed and another policeman dead. On his return to work, Carl is assigned to a cold case that will consume his life.
CAST: Matthew Goode, Chloe Pirrie, Jamie Sives, Alexej Manvelov, Leah Byrne, Kelly Macdonald, Kate Dickie, Patrick Kennedy, Mark Bonnar
VERDICT: I fell madly and quickly for this new crime drama series. The location, its texture, and the madcap group of quirky characters who are forced together to solve a cold case. Well written and brilliantly acted (led by the always reliable Goode), this show is well worth watching. I love all the characters (Akram is a gem) and the show’s fearless portrayal of unlikeable female characters. This is Netflix’s Slow Horses. Don’t miss it.
DYING FOR SEX | Mini-Series | FX | 2025 | Showrunners: Kim Rosenstock and Elizabeth Meriwether | Trailer | IMDb PLOT: Story of a woman diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, who abandons her husband of 15 years and begins to fully explore her sexuality.
CAST: Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, David Rasche, Esco Jouléy, Sissy Spacek, Jay Duplass
VERDICT: This show is fearless in its portrayal of sex, kinks, and intimacy. Williams is wonderful as always, but Slate, in an unusually dramatic role, truly shines in this compassionate look at female friendship and grief. I laughed, I cried, and it made me less afraid of death. A remarkable show.
ÉTOILE | Prime Video | 2025 | Showrunners: Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: The dancers and artistic staff of two world-renowned ballet companies embark on an ambitious gambit to save their storied institutions by swapping their most talented stars.
CAST: Luke Kirby, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Lou de Laâge, Gideon Glick, David Alvarez, Ivan du Pontavice, David Haig, Simon Callow, Yanic Truesdale
VERDICT: This show is loud, quirky, and moves a mile a minute. In true Sherman-Palladino form, the series is chock-full of crazy characters who talk fast and veer on the edge of likeability. This is a humorous and absurd look at the complex ballet world, and Kirby and Laâge are sublime. Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel fans will love it (I found it captivating), but for others, I’m not so sure.
THE FOUR SEASONS | Season 1 | Netflix | (2025-present) | Showrunner: Tina Fey | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: Three suburban couples vacation together each season, but tensions arise when one couple splits up and the husband brings a much younger woman on subsequent trips.
CAST: Tina Fey, Will Forte, Colman Domingo, Kerri Kenney, Marco Calvani, Erika Henningsen, Steve Carell
VERDICT: A very funny show that examines midlife relationships, grief, love, friendship, and ageing. Come for the laughs, stay for Colman Domingo and his undeniable charisma and fabulousness.
THE LAST OF US | Season 2 | HBO | (2023-present) | Showrunners: Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: After a global pandemic destroys civilisation, a hardened survivor takes charge of a 14-year-old girl who may be humanity's last hope.
CAST: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, Kaitlyn Dever, Jeffrey Wright, Alanna Ubach, Tony Dalton, Joe Pantoliano
VERDICT: This season took some big swings, and there were some opinions to say the least. On the one hand, it was bold and daring, on the other, the show may suffer going forward from losing such a major asset. Episodes two and six are standouts, with the latter featuring the best performances of Pascal and Ramsey so far. However, I found the season finale disappointing, but it will certainly lead to a fascinating season 3 opener.
LITTLE DISASTERS | Paramount+ | 2025 | Showrunner: Ruth Fowler | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: A group of new mother friends are torn apart when one is accused of injuring her baby, fracturing their bond and nearly destroying their families.
CAST: Diane Kruger, Jo Joyner as Liz, Ben Bailey Smith, Shelley Conn, Emily Taaffe, JJ Feild, Stephen Campbell Moore, Patrick Baladi
VERDICT: This six-part drama has an incredibly intriguing set-up, instantly generating tension and giving the show its high stakes. I was excited to see Joyner as part of the main cast, as she was always a highlight during her time on EastEnders. It’s a compelling watch that starts strong but stretches credulity by the end to an annoying degree. However, the show remains gripping throughout. Though I’m really getting tired of the constant portrayals of incompetent husbands failing to recognise that their partners are struggling.
MID-CENTURY MODERN | Season 1 | Hulu | (2025-present) | Showrunners: Max Mutchnick and David Kohan | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: After an unexpected death, three best friends—gay gentlemen of a certain age—decide to spend their golden years living together in Palm Springs, where the wealthiest one lives with his mother.
CAST: Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, Nathan Lee Graham, Linda Lavin
VERDICT: Hilarious and poignant. I fell in love instantly, and I could hang out with Bunny, Jerry, and Arthur forever. RIP to the wonderful Linda Lavin.
YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS | Season 1 | Apple TV+ | (2025-present) | Showrunner: Jonathan Tropper | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: A hedge fund manager resorts to burglary after losing his job, targeting wealthy neighbours to maintain his family's lifestyle, but makes a fateful error breaking into the wrong home.
CAST: Jon Hamm, Amanda Peet, Olivia Munn, Hoon Lee, Mark Tallman, Lena Hall, Aimee Carrero
VERDICT: As a huge Jonathan Tropper fan (BansheeHive!), I was always going to watch this. Add in Jon Hamm and Tropper-regular Hoon Lee, and you’ve got a slick crime drama with an absorbing takedown of suburbia. It’s fun, it’s silly, and Hamm is great.
ALIENS EXPANDED | 2024 | Director: Ian Nathan | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: An in-depth and innovative documentary that explores the story behind James Cameron's beloved sci-fi epic Aliens (1986) and its incredible impact.
VERDICT: A five-hour goldmine of everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the Alien franchise. Despite its runtime, it never drags, and not a single moment is wasted. Written and directed by my favourite film critic, Ian Nathan, this documentary assembles the famous cast, its extraordinary crew, and fans and critics alike to form THE definitive guide to one of the greatest films of all time. A must watch for any Alien or sci-fi fan.
PETS | 2025 | Disney+ | Director: Bryce Dallas Howard | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: It explores the extraordinary relationship between animals and their people around the world. Highlighting dogs, cats, pigs, goats, and birds of prey, Pets takes us on a lovely journey that celebrates love, loss, and licks along the way.
VERDICT: This charming documentary showcases the love of people and their beloved pets. Featuring beautiful stories of everyday people who’ve devoted their lives to helping sick and at-risk animals, Pets also highlights the importance of animal bonding for children and their importance in our overall lives. Lovely and adorable. I cried a lot.
RADICAL WOLFE | 2025 | Director: Richard Dewey | Trailer | IMDbPLOT: With a distinctive style all his own, author and journalist Tom Wolfe reshapes how American stories are told.
VERDICT: As a longtime fan of Wolfe and his work, this is a fascinating insight into the man behind some of the craziest stories in 20th-century American fiction. The pacing is solid, and the in-depth interviews are fascinating. This is a powerful tribute to a writer who refuses to be forgotten or, worse, typecast.
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