By John Corrado
New releases for the week of June 6th, 2025.
Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
Theatrical Releases:
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (Wide Release): This John Wick spinoff, set between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4, sees Ana de Armas taking centre stage as a ballerina and assassin. It’s a pretty good spinoff that notably gets better as it goes along. The film starts somewhat rough, but builds to a solid last act, and the action sequences (reportedly reshot by producer and original series director Chad Stahelski) are unsurprisingly the best parts. Former Bond Girl de Armas also makes for a solid action heroine. (Full Review)
The Phoenician Scheme (Wide Release): Wes Anderson’s latest immaculately designed work focuses on the relationship between corrupt businessman Zsa-Zsa Korda (Benicio Del Toro) and his novitiate daughter Liesl (Mia Threapleton), whom he appoints sole heir to his estate. The wonderful ensemble cast is rounded out by Anderson regulars, now joined by Michael Cera, who is positively delightful in a supporting role that makes us wonder why he’s never worked with the director before. I’ve seen the film twice now, and if you’re a Wes Anderson fan like I am, it’s a total treat. (Full Review)
Dangerous Animals (Wide Release): A clever twist on the killer shark movie, where the real predator is an Australian serial killer (Jai Courtney) who feeds his victims to the sharks. It’s a fun summer movie, with director Sean Byrne balancing moments of camp with genuine suspense, and Courtney has a ball eating up this role. (Full Review)
The Ritual (Wide Release): This dreary based-on-a-true-story possession movie stars Dan Stevens and Al Pacino as priests overseeing the exorcism of a young woman (Abigail Cowen) in 1928. These are obviously talented actors, but the film is plagued by poor camerawork, editing, and pacing. It’s not good. (Full Review)
More Releases: I Don’t Understand You (TIFF Lightbox), Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye (Limited), DOGMA: Resurrected! A 25th Anniversary Celebration (Limited)
Streaming Releases:
Predator: Killer of Killers (Disney+): This latest entry in the Predator franchise from director Dan Trachtenberg, following his surprisingly good prequel Prey, is an animated anthology that shows the Predator at different points in history. The film’s episodic, triptych structure presents three separate storylines, pitting the Predator against Vikings, Japanese Samurai, and World War II fighter pilots (the third story, set during WWII, is also the best). The graphic novel-style animation doesn’t hold back on the violence (and animated gore). It’s a pretty cool concept, allowing the franchise to play around in different historical eras, and it’s rendered onscreen with some eye-catching visuals.
More Releases: The Accountant 2 (Prime Video), Tyler Perry’s Straw (Netflix)
The Joy of Movies 