Memorial Day Weekend is usually a big time for the box office. This year is no different with two massive heavyweights in theaters. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and Lilo & Stitch are both playing. There are some big options at home as well. That Hashtag Show has all the titles to keep you entertained while the temperatures climb. Time to jump in!
Lilo & Stitch – In Theaters Friday
Disney has called in one of their most memorable characters for the summer. Lilo & Stitch is the latest of a long line of live-action remakes. But, critics and audiences have lauded this one ahead of the release. That Hashtag Show’s Jessica Lancaster enjoyed her time with the new movie. But, she also felt like some of the quirky edges from the original were ironed out. Lilo & Stitch is still going to be massive though.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – In Theaters Friday
Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt is back for one last ride. Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning plays as action counter-programming to Disney’s massive family flick. (What a world where The Final Reckoning and Lilo & Stitch share top billing.) But, this a late-period Tom Cruise film, so the stunts are absolutely on-point. The Final Reckoning takes great pains to connect some of the more surprising elements from the series’ past. If you love action and seeing things on the biggest screen possible, this one is a lock!
Fear Street: Prom Queen – Streaming on Netflix
1988 is suddenly very scary in the latest addition to the Fear Street franchise. Netflix knows viewers young and old delight at a slasher flick. This one takes things back to the 1980s and the results are dependable. Visual styling gags, a doomed prom court and a ton of screams. Fear Street’s new movie is the kind of thing you know if you’re going to enjoy before you ever hit play on the tile in the app. If you like Horror, worth checking out.
The Fountain of Youth – Streaming on Apple TV+
John Krasinski and Natalie Portman star in this new adventure series with Domhall Gleeson. A nice PG-13 adventure for viewers of all ages to settle in for. There’s a mythical fountain and it’s up to our intrepid explorers to go discover it. History knowledge comes into play and you’ll get nice Legend of the Hidden Temple or Uncharted vibes from this one. Dependable, just like the stars with their names on the marquee.
Overcompensating – In Theaters Tomorrow!
Benito Skinner plays a former football player trying to figure out who he is. Benny was the homecoming king and is now a bit adrift! He’s questioning just about everything he thought he knew about his life. Overcompensating is sweet, funny and really relatable to young people who might not share all of Benny’s experiences. My favorite show of the last decade was Sort Of on Max. Anything that even remotely reminds me of Sabi and their friends gets a thumbs-up from me.
Duster – Streaming on HBO Max
We hope you’re feeling groovy this weekend. Josh Holloway is Jim Ellis, a getaway driver. He drifts into the orbit of Rachel Hilson’s Nina Hayes. The first Black female FBI agent is on the prowl trying to take down a crime family. Duster is set in 1972, so the style and action are on-point. But, this one has way more to it than just looking good. A real surprise on HBO Max.
The Ugly Stepsister – Streaming on Shudder
Horror is having a bit of a moment here. (Check out Sinners and Final Destination doing wild numbers at the box office.) But The Ugly Stepsister is definitely a movie that you need to put on your list. Fairytale trappings and a little touch of body horror to boot. Lea Myren is fantastic in this movie as Elvira. It’s a movie that’s going to stick with you for a while. I’m not the biggest spooky times person and I think it’s one of the year’s best.
That Hashtag Show
