After the death of her oldest friend, 94-year-old Eleanor Morgenstein moves to New York City for a fresh start. Wandering into a support group for Holocaust survivors, she tells a tale that takes on a dangerous life of its own.

Set against the warm, chaotic hum of New York City, Eleanor the Great follows Eleanor Morgenstein (Squibb), an 85-year-old widow whose quiet life in Florida is upended by loss. Struggling with grief, she makes a sudden decision to return to her roots in Manhattan; a city she hasn’t called home in decades. What begins as a simple trip turns into a journey of self-discovery, as Eleanor reconnects with old friends, meets new ones, and rediscovers the vibrant, imperfect beauty of life itself.

Johansson, known for her sharp emotional intuition as an actor, brings that same precision and depth to her direction. Her touch is light yet confident, each frame alive with detail, each emotional beat earned. She has a knack for balancing the bittersweet; every pang of sadness is tempered by laughter, every moment of reflection underscored by hope. This tonal balance, tender but never sentimental, poignant yet playful, gives Eleanor the Great its irresistible charm.

At the film’s center is June Squibb, who delivers nothing short of magic. At 95, Squibb is luminous, sharp-witted, and utterly commanding. Her portrayal of Eleanor is a masterclass in understated power, she’s funny, cantankerous, and profoundly human. There’s a glint in her eye that captures decades of life lived, and Johansson knows just when to linger, allowing Squibb’s expressions to say more than words ever could. It’s the kind of performance that reminds audiences why cinema exists: to make us feel, laugh, and see ourselves in others.

Surrounding Squibb is an exceptional supporting cast, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jessica Hecht, and the ever-reliable Ayo Edebiri, all of whom shine in their roles as the people who reawaken Eleanor’s zest for life. Their chemistry is organic, filled with warmth and humor that radiate through the screen.

Visually, the film is stunning. Johansson and cinematographer Matthew Libatique craft a visual world that feels both intimate and alive — soft sunlight spilling through windows, bustling street corners painted in nostalgic hues, and moments of quiet solitude that feel deeply personal. The score, composed by Alexandre Desplat, dances gently between melancholy and joy, perfectly matching Eleanor’s emotional rhythm.

But what truly sets Eleanor the Great apart is its honesty. This is a story about aging — not as decline, but as evolution. Johansson refuses to patronize her audience; instead, she celebrates the complexity and courage of growing old. The film reminds us that it’s never too late to start again, never too late to feel something new, never too late to be great.

By its closing act, Eleanor the Great has taken audiences on a full emotional journey — one filled with laughter, tears, and a renewed appreciation for life’s fleeting beauty. It’s the rare film that leaves you lighter and fuller at the same time, a cinematic hug that lingers long after the credits roll.

With Eleanor the Great, Scarlett Johansson proves herself not only one of Hollywood’s brightest stars but one of its most compassionate new directors. This is filmmaking with heart and soul — honest, hilarious, and profoundly human. And in June Squibb’s radiant performance, we witness one of the year’s most unforgettable turns.

Eleanor the Great is, without question, one of 2025’s best films — a moving, funny, and heartwarming triumph that reminds us all what it means to truly live.

Image: Sony Pictures

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Brought in to fix NASA’s public image, sparks fly in all directions as marketing maven Kelly Jones (Johansson) wreaks havoc on launch director Cole Davis’s (Tatum) already difficult task. When the White House deems the mission too important to fail, Jones is directed to stage a fake moon landing as back-up and the countdown truly begins?

July 20, 1969, evokes tremendous nostalgia, pride and feel-good energy as the day when humankind did the impossible and reached the surface of the Moon. It was a moment of discovery and triumph and symbolised the purist pursuit of human excellence. Fly Me to the Moon offers the story of just how the astronauts got there and the fun, funny and sometimes firey moments that culminated in humanity’s greatest-ever achievement. Director Greg Berlanti brings together equal parts science and spin as he matches up two opposite characters: quick-witted marketing maven Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson) with by-the-book mission commander Cole Davis (Channing Tatum) for a rambunctious rom-com experience that shows just what can happen when you look to the stars and reach for the Moon.

Standing front and centre in Fly Me to the Moon is celebrated actress Scarlett Johansson as Kelly Jones, a New York advertising executive who’s the best in the business, and she finds an unexpected job offer to put her considerable skills for selling to use. The pitch: sell the moon landing to a now disinterested American populace and help get the astronauts on the Moon. And it’s with this new role that Johansson gets going. She brings an entirely effortless charm and appeal to the quick-witted and take-charge Kelly, and it’s fun to see her in a rom-com experience where she can just let loose and play up her considerable comedic chops. Added to the laughs is a real character journey for Kelly as she seeks to hide an unexpected secret, and along the way, discovers a love affair even she couldn’t have dreamed up, and all of it adds to the fun.

Playing off Johansson, is Channing Tatum as the stoic and direct mission commander Cole Davis. A former fighter pilot who unfortunately never made it to the Astronaut program and is running from tragedy finds a new mission and a new lease on life thanks to Kelly. And there are hijinks to be had. For Tatum, Fly Me to the Moon is a real change of direction. While he has previously flirted with rom-com energy, he gets to go all out in Fly Me to the Moon, and it’s an entirely unexpected experience for audiences that they’ll get a kick out of. He shares excellent chemistry with Johansson, and the two of them together hold the attention of the screen and audience in the most perfect way.

Bringing plenty of scene-stealing energy to the picture is the great Woody Harrelson, and he’s utterly brilliant in Fly Me to the Moon. Cast in the role of Moe Berkus, a shadowy government aid who’s there to ensure Kelly’s brief succeeds, Moe comes to her with an additional assignment: fake the moon landing in case Neil, Buzz and Mike don’t make it. And from there, things get interesting. As he is prone to do, Harrelson steals every scene that he appears in, and the results make for utterly perfect viewing that will get you giddy with excitement as you experience all the giggles.

Fly Me to the Moon perfectly captures the film’s 1960s era, and plenty of swing and fun is present in this picture. Those audience members longing for the romantic-comedy experience that only a cinema screen can give will be greatly rewarded with this picture, which offers a fun time with plenty of laughs and a dash of good old-fashioned romance. The film also has its moments, and not to wander into spoiler territory, but its third act is filled with priceless moments and will have you hanging on for dear life as the race to the Moon, both real and ‘fake’, reaches full speed!

To reach the Moon, you’ve got to shoot for the stars, and that’s exactly what Fly Me to the Moon does with a darling little story, plenty of heartfelt romance and a whole heap of rocket fuel, and this is a picture that will make you smile for all the right reasons.

Image: Sony Pictures

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Get ready for sparks to fly in the sharp, stylish, and sweet new romantic comedy-drama Fly Me to the Moon, which takes audiences to the edge of the Space Race, the antics of its stars, and the pulse of its narrative will have you on the edge of your seat.

Watch the final trailer for Fly Me to the Moon below:

Here’s the official synopsis:

Brought in to fix NASA’s public image, sparks fly in all directions as marketing maven Kelly Jones (Johansson) wreaks havoc on launch director Cole Davis’s (Tatum) already difficult task. When the White House deems the mission too important to fail, Jones is directed to stage a fake moon landing as back-up and the countdown truly begins?

This final trailer gives audiences a complete look at the action and romance of Fly Me to the Moon, and its an incredibly exciting new feature film that is sure to give you all the thrills. Scarlett Johansson is literally the smartest person in the room as snappy marketing maven Kelly Jones who will pull out all her tricks to successfully brand the Moon Landing in the best light possible, while Channing Tatum is the dashing test pilot turned flight director Cole Davis, and there’s considerable chemistry between the two of them that is sure to lead to plenty of sparks and a hole heap of heavy jitters.

Fly Me to the Moon has all the hallmarks of a production that is sure to leave audiences excited with its solid mix of drama, comedy, and romance. It’ll be a real treat when it arrives in cinemas on July 11.

Image: Sony Pictures

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Watch the full trailer below:

Here’s the official synopsis:

Brought in to fix NASA’s public image, sparks fly in all directions as marketing maven Kelly Jones (Johansson) wreaks havoc on launch director Cole Davis’s (Tatum) already difficult task. When the White House deems the mission too important to fail, Jones is directed to stage a fake moon landing as back-up and the countdown truly begins…

With it’s vintage charm, back and forth banter between Johansson and Tatum, a few romantic sparks, the possibility of a conspiracy theory, Fly Me to the Moon is a film that is sure to appeal to cinemagoers of all ages, and it looks like an absolute blast.

The trailer gives audiences a new angle to the backdrop of the Moon Race, and the casting of Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, and their wicked level of chemistry together will make this one a real winner.

 

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Get set for all kinds of hijinks with this sharp, stylish drama-comedy when Fly Me to the Moon arrives in cinemas on July 11.

Image: Sony Pictures

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Following the events of Captain America: Civil War, Natasha Romanoff finds herself alone and forced to confront a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Romanoff must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.

Long time fans of the MCU have been waiting with bated breath for the arrival of Marvel Studios Black Widow and they will be very happy with what director Cate Shortland brings to the screen. If you think you know what you’re getting with Black Widow, think again, as Shortland delivers a film that is a high-octane, gunmetal espionage thriller, and trust me when I say that you’ve never seen a Marvel film like this before. With her directorial vision, Shortland gives Black Widow a dark and grungy tone, and really takes audiences inside the shadowy Black Ops world that exists outside of the Avengers scope. This is a world of shadow battles that are fought with automatic weapons, sharped edged blades and sheer grit, and right from the get-go Shortland seriously raises the stakes.

Placing great emphasis on an early Cold War setting, and the ongoing threat of a post-Soviet spy world, where the tensions are high between the West and the Russian block, leads to a considerable amount of danger, and Black Widow has a serious edge to its storytelling. Going back in time, Shortland takes us inside the mind of Natasha Romanoff and her existence within the feared Red Room, and there’s plenty of moments that will make you jump as Natasha has to contend with her past. Balancing character with action, Shortland keeps her audience guessing the whole way through, and there’s some juicy storytelling to keep audiences engaged. Black Widow is an all-together different kind of MCU cinematic experience for Marvel fans and Shortland crafts one hell of an engaging movie.

Front and centre in Black Widow is of course long time MCU star Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow and for the first time, audiences will truly experience her complete story. While MCU fans will of course be aware of Natasha’s eventual fate, the experience of watching Black Widow leads to a completely full circle journey for Johansson’s portrayal of this character as she lets audiences into what actually makes this super-spy turned Avenger tick. Along with allowing us into Natasha’s headspace, Johansson also answers questions related to Natasha’s past, such as the details of the Budapest affair, along with her actions as a Widow, which provides plenty of interesting character depth.

Joining Johansson in Black Widow is MCU newcomer Florence Pugh as Natasha’s adoptive sister Yelena Belova and Pugh is an absolute firecracker in the role. Best described as Natasha’s dark shadow, Yelena is a far darker character compared to her sister and she’s definitely a wild child at heart. Pugh’s Yelena makes for a very interesting mirror in which to analyze Natasha and her actions and with Yelena’s devil-may-care attitude and far more lethal and serious leanings makes their interactions together that much more interesting to watch on screen. I was very impressed with what Pugh brought to the role, and how she changed up the narrative and audiences will love this new Widow that they get to meet.

Bringing a formidable force to the narrative of Black Widow is David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian, the Soviet Union’s only ever super-soldier, and who is now a deep shadow of his former self. A now bloated, washed-up state prisoner, who bears a deep resentment to his former life as a ‘hero’, Alexei is a tragic and complicated character and has a lot to give to the story of Black Widow. Best described as an absentee father, Alexei finds a second chance to redeem himself in the eyes of his ‘children’ and the results are very enjoyable to watch. It’s clear that Harbour had a blast in the role, and he gives his performance a great mix of comedy that keeps things engaging, while also cramming into his uniform to throw down one more time.

Finally, Rachel Weisz brings a very interesting and complicated presence to Black Widow in the form of Melina Vostokoff, a mother figure to Natasha and Yelena and Alexei’s former lover. And her presence in the film is sure to keep audiences on their toes. As the brains behind the Red Room, Melina has a seriously dark history and Weisz excels at giving this character a two-faced quality that keeps the audience on edge. With Melina, you never know what she’s going to do next and Weisz’s resulting performance is sure to keep you amped the whole way through, and she makes for a very interesting addition to this complicated family unit.

The action of Black Widow is simply outstanding! Marvel fans who have been wanting a serious adrenaline rush will not be disappointed, and this is one film that will get your heart pumping. From a helicopter smash escape from a Siberian prison to a full-on assault through the streets of Budapest, the action of Black Widow doesn’t let up for a moment and Marvel fans will love what Shortland and her team bring to the screen. The film’s Spec Ops setting makes the action that much more adrenaline-charged and when Natasha has to face down the unstoppable might of the lethal Taskmasker, things truly get dialled all the way up. We’ve been waiting a long time for this level of epic action and the results are awesome to witness on screen.

But in addition to its epic action, Black Widow also focuses in on some very heavy themes, and this is the most moved I’ve been by a Marvel movie since Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2. Shortland’s focus on ideas of family, and the trials and tribulations they go through is sure to affect all who watch this movie. The resulting exploration of childhood trauma and psychological scarification gives this film a dark shadow to investigate, and the concept of free will is inspected with keen interest by Shortland on screen. Black Widow examines what it means to stand up and be a hero and to right the wrongs of your past and audiences will get a real kick out of this thematic study.

Black Widow is without a doubt the film we all need right now and this is one movie-going experience you’ll want to witness up on the big screen as it was meant to be seen. So go out now and embrace the epic popcorn blockbuster fun that is Black Widow…because this is Marvel the way it was meant to be experienced.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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Following the events of Avengers: Infinity War, with half of the universe killed in an event dubbed “The Decimation”, the universe lies in shambles and the remaining Avengers and their allies must reassemble to repair the damage caused by Thanos and bring harmony back to the universe

Be forewarned. This review will be written to be completely spoiler free and so in keeping with this I will not be delving into any specific plot points. As an experience, it’s far better to go into Avengers: Endgame completely blind and just let the entire film experience wash over you with it’s amazing collection of characters who find themselves facing the biggest fight of their lives.

For Joe and Anthony Russo, Avengers: Endgame is the culmination of a journey that has been a long time in the making and it completely takes you by surprise. There’s no way that you can expect what is coming here and the narrative is particularly clever. Weaving in and out of the events of a post Infinity War universe, while also calling back to the past 21 MCU films that have come before it. All of it makes Avengers: Endgame a very seamless watch and you’ll be absolutely wired into the events that play out on screen.

One thing that I absolutely loved about Avengers: Endgame was how we were witnessing the way in which the events of Infinity War changed the core Avengers roster of Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and just how each of these individuals reacted to Thanos’ (Josh Brolin) mighty snap. The growth and change in our heroes is definitely interesting, and their new status in a changed universe provides an interesting foundation for their heroism to grow from again.

The Russo’s pack this film to the brim with incredible action sequences and some astounding visual effects that really bring out the inner-Marvelness of Endgame, but through all of this the film feels like a distinctly character driven drama. While I would use the word epic to describe the events of Avengers: Endgame in detail, it was great to go on this journey with these characters as their heroism is tested to the limit and together this combination of epic visual spectacle, and intimate character storytelling makes for a very beautiful film to watch.

Narrative, spectacle and character are all parts of the filmmaking process, and Avengers: Endgame is the ultimate example of this art form coming together in perfect symphony. Cast and crew give their all to this production and it shows in every single frame of film. From the Russo Brothers narrative and direction to the cast’s commitment to performance to the gorgeous cinematography of Trent Opaloch, the kinetic pacing of editing by Jeffrey Ford and Matthew Schmidt and the heart pounding and emotive score provided by the great Alan Silvestri, Avengers: Endgame comes together perfectly and the result is simply incredible to behold. This film is a true testament to to the passion and energy of so many people with a desire to deliver something truly marvelous.

Avengers: Endgame is a film heavy with emotions and it touches on many important themes throughout its narrative. Love, loss, family and above all else heroism are explored to their fullest in this three hour long extravaganza and the Russo Brothers really deliver on the depth of the MCU, along with all the visual fanfare that we’ve come to expect from Marvel. The core idea at the heart of Avengers: Endgame is heroism and how no matter how broken or beaten down we may be we can always rise to the challenge when we are called upon, just as the Avengers do time and time again. While we thought that Infinity War would have been their greatest test, it is in Endgame that they really find their strength most challenged and their will to meet it and do the right thing is an extremely powerful message. With each new Marvel film we find out just what it means to be a hero and Avengers: Endgame is the ultimate thesis on this idea.

I never thought I could see a film bigger than Avengers: Infinity War. Well I did and that film was Avengers: Endgame. A true cinematic marvel that delivers on every single level and provides a fitting closure to Marvel Studios Phase Three and the past 11 years. This is the film that every single Marvel fan has long waited for and everyone involved in it delivers a hundred and ten percent to its success. They don’t get much better than this. Excelsior.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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Picking up the actin of both of the first teaser and this year’s Super Bowl spot, the action moves both backwards and forwards as our heroes trace both their pasts and their new mission to re-write what Thanos did and save the universe for good.

Watch this amazing new trailer below:

Here’s the full synopsis:

Following the events of Avengers: Infinity War, with half of the universe killed in an event dubbed “The Decimation”, the universe lies in shambles and the remaining Avengers and their allies must reassemble to repair the damage caused by Thanos and bring harmony back to the universe

This new trailer really gets to the heart of who the Avengers are and how their heroic nature cannot be tamed and now more than ever these heroes are ready to stand up and fight for what is right.

The new footage on display is just amazing, not only do we see the return of the original core Avengers who include Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and the likes of Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), Nebula (Karen Gillan), War Machine (Don Cheadle), Okoye (Danai Gurira), Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) and Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) now also join their ranks. And this time they’re coming for Thanos with a fury to avenge the universe, as well as sporting all-new white and red suits, which has me thinking that our heroes might be taking their fight to the cosmos.

Get ready for the epic final showdown that is Avengers: Endgame where our heroes will do whatever it takes to save the universe, and which will arrive in cinemas on April 24.

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Here are five reasons why you should definitely line up to watch Hail, Caesar!:

5. The talented tap-dancing of Burt Gurney

Channelling his inner Gene Kelly, Channing Tatum is perfectly cast as tap-dancing whizz and studio A-lister Burt Gurney, who enchants audiences with a rhythmic and choreographic musical number of epic proportions. While audiences have long known that Tatum can definitely shake it, he steps it up a notch as the whimsical Gurney, who may not be quite all he appears to be.

4. The Golden Age of Hollywood

Set during the Hollywood’s golden age of the mid-1950s when big blockbusters ruled the silver screen, Hail, Caesar! utilises a unique setting to tell a compelling and completely hysterical day-in-the-life story. Set amongst the dramas surrounding uber studio Capital Pictures, the film follows both the actors and the studio heads who order them through a range of chaotic situations that threaten to derail the mega project aptly named Hail, Caesar. The Coen’s have a lot of fun with the period detail, while playing around with the history of gossip columns and the deal making that shaped Hollywood.

3. Scarlet Johansson – The impossible starlet

While Eddie Mannix’s day mostly concerns finding missing movie star Baird Whitlock (George Clooney), after he goes missing from the set of Hail, Caesar!, he also finds himself trying to rescue pregnant and unwed starlet DeeAnna Moran from a possible scandal. Making quite the entrance in an epic synchronised swimming scene, Johansson impresses with a thick New Jersey accent and tough demeanor that shatters all illusions we have of the perfect Hollywood starlet. The banter she shares with Brolin’s Mannix is fun to watch, as the two appear to be the only two realists in the crazy world of Hollywood.

2. Eddie Mannix – The no-nonsense studio exec

Cast in the central role of studio ‘fixer’ Eddie Mannix is Coen regular Josh Brolin, who once again makes a big impression on audiences as a no-nonsense but deeply troubled individual. Brolin is both deeply serious and unintentionally hilarious as Mannix, who has a ritualised habit of attending confession in between juggling multiple tasks. While it would be easy to make Mannix a corporate suit and villain, he’s immensely likeable as the only sensible and switched on individual in all of Tinseltown, and you can’t help but respect his commitment to his job and clients.

1. ‘Twer that it were so simple’

But Hail, Caesar’s defining moment comes in a showdown between cowboy musician Hoby Doyle (Alden Ehrenreich) and cultured director Laurence Laurentiz (Ralph Fiennes), on the set of Laurentiz’s new movie. The interaction between these two results in an absolute laughfest, owing mostly to a clash of culture and filmmaking styles. Well worth the watch.

Image source: Paramount Pictures.

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