Four New Films Released This Week

Marvel's Thunderbolts* headlines this week's new film releases, assembling a team of antiheroes, led by Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova, in a style reminiscent of Suicide Squad and The Avengers. Critics note the film's blend of humor, action, and formulaic superhero team-up tropes, with standout performances from Pugh, David Harbour, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as a villainous mastermind. Thunderbolts* is considered an accessible entry point for audiences unfamiliar with the wider MCU, as it primarily builds on the character development from Black Widow (2021). Other notable releases include Rust, a western marked by the tragic on-set death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, and Paul Feig's comedic sequel A Simple Favor 2, featuring Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick. International offerings this week range from gritty Irish dramas to the animated Looney Tunes feature The Day the Earth Blew Up. The diverse slate caters to a wide array of cinematic tastes, from superhero spectacle to psychological thrillers and global stories.