What To Watch This Weekend! – ‘Primetime,’ Brad Pitt & a Dog, & Other Highlights

This weekend has something for every type of moviegoer, from a psychological crime thriller centered around the To Catch a Predator phenomenon to a survival thriller featuring Brad Pitt and a combat German Shepherd to an Avengers: Endgame encore. This doesn’t even count a significant film in limited release and a highly praised animated film that is also looking for some attention. Add to that what looks like strong holdover business from last week’s number one film, Resident Evil, and moviegoing is in strong shape. We could see a weekend where at least four films gross $20 million+, and even if that comes up short, we’re still looking at strong grosses on the higher end of double digits. This week’s What To Watch is all about variety, and that doesn’t even include what’s available to check out at home.

What’s Opening In Theaters?

Robert Pattinson continues his incredible 2026 with the release of Primetime, a psychological thriller directed by Lance Oppenheim in his narrative feature debut. The film, written by Ajon Singh, is based on the 2007 Esquire article “Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die” and centers on the production of To Catch a Predator, a reality television series that ran as a segment on Dateline NBC, with Pattinson leading the film as the series’ host, Chris Hansen. The movie also stars Skyler Gisondo, Merritt Wever, and Phoebe Bridgers. 

Primetime premiered in the main competition at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, competing for the Golden Lion and earning strong reviews. The film is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes at 86 percent, with 125 reviews counted, alongside an 84 percent audience score. Critics say it shines a scary light on the sensationalism that comes with producing reality television. In addition, Pattinson is earning raves across the board for his performance as Hansen, with many saying he is a lock for a Best Actor Academy Award nomination. Also of note is what the buzz means for A24, the indie studio that has been challenging major studios for box office supremacy. If tracking holds, Primetime will become the 4th movie in A24’s history to cross the $20 million mark in its domestic debut. Whether it’s Pattinson’s growing star power or genuine interest in the subject matter, Primetime is striking a chord ahead of its opening and could become a bit of a watercooler film this weekend. 

Also opening is Heart of the Beast, a survival thriller directed by David Ayer and written by Cameron Alexander. In the film, Brad Pitt portrays James Belmont, a retired Special Forces veteran who must navigate a treacherous 58-mile trek to safety with his traumatized military combat German Shepherd, Odin, in tow. The film also stars J.K. Simmons and Anna Lambe.

If one thing is clear about moviegoers from all walks of life, it’s that what they have in common, other than a love for movies, is a love for dogs. The trailers for Heart of the Beast have been tugging at dog lovers’ emotions, with many across social media exclaiming that Odin better not perish by the end of the film. That alone generated interest, but surprisingly good reviews boosted the film’s profile even more. Heart of the Beast is currently certified fresh at 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with 103 reviews, and most critics warn you to bring your tissues. This is the kind of movie that could generate substantial word of mouth (already seems healthy given its 97 percent audience score), so even with the $82 million film expected to open with at least $20 million, which appears low for its budget, don’t be surprised if Heart of the Beast sticks around as an audience favorite in the weeks ahead. 

For those gearing up for Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel Studios is offering a refresher of sorts with the release of Avengers: Endgame Encore, said to feature new footage, a custom introduction, and a new post-credits scene that serves as a bridge to Doomsday. Depending on where you’re getting your info, Encore adds roughly two to four minutes of new footage. Will that be enough for fans to revisit a film that they helped clear $2.799 billion worldwide?

That seems like a resounding yes! Tracking shows the film opening at $25 million+ and looks to be the only movie debuting this weekend that could challenge Resident Evil for the top spot. For those saying there is any Marvel fatigue, look no further than Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s record-breaking box office and the pre-sales for Avengers: Doomsday, which have already crossed $55 million in domestic pre-sales more than three months before its release date. It’s actually outpacing Brand New Day at the same point in their pre-release windows, and that film opened to $360 million. All that adds up to big interest in all things Avengers, and even though many can enjoy Avengers: Endgame at home, moviegoers and Marvel fans may want to relive the feeling of seeing their favorite heroes return after being dusted and hear Chris Evans’ Captain America say, “Avengers! Assemble!” 

Kids also have something to hold their attention with the release of the animated fantasy comedy Forgotten Island. Written and directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, Forgotten Island comes from DreamWorks Animation, and it is set in the 1990s in the Philippines, where it follows Jo and Raissa (voiced by H.E.R. and Liza Soberano), two best friends who accidentally get trapped in the mystical world of Nakali. The friends will have to rely on each other to escape the world, which gradually feeds on the memories of those who are trapped there, before they forget each other. The film also features vocal performances by Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng, and Lea Salonga. 

Marketing feels muted for a film that has earned raves from critics, with a 96 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 71 reviews. Critics are calling it enthralling, energetic, and a visual triumph, so it’s a little strange that it arrives this weekend without the fanfare expected of a film that’s received such a reception. The budget is low at $80 million, and here’s to hoping the family audience discovers it this weekend and beyond, because it appears to be one of the better animated films released this year. 

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and earned solid reviews. The film currently sits at 98 percent on Rotten Tomatoes with 49 reviews counted, and critics are raving about its elegant fight choreography and unique singular vision. Ali has been doing the promotional rounds and revealing more about his feelings about the canceled MCU Blade film. Even with some bitterness, it looks like all that training he didn’t get to use in the Marvel Cinematic Universe paid off here. Amazon MGM Studios is giving it a limited push this weekend, so if this one is playing near you, it sounds like a film to check out. 

What To Watch At Home

Home viewing has a slew of films hitting digital that didn’t make much of a dent in the summer box office, plus a few television offerings to add to your binge-watch. Whether it’s the ladies who want a spa trip or the men who want to see what the Super Troopers are doing, there’s something for everyone, with plenty of variety for a packed weekend.

Hitting digital is the comedy Spa Weekend, written and directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. In the film, three childhood friends escape to a luxury spa retreat in Palm Springs for some relaxation and much-needed hilarity. The movie stars Isla Fisher, Leslie Mann, Anna Faris, and Michelle Buteau.

Black Bear Pictures released this film in August, and the marketing wasn’t especially robust, but the trailer, for what it’s worth, sells its concept of fun with the girls very well. Perhaps this film is better served at home, because the demo ignored it last month as it grossed a mere $12 million on a $20 million budget. The cast is great and, for good measure, Lucas and Moore are known for their collaborative work on The Hangover, 21 & Over, and Bad Moms, so their comedy pedigree is solid. The movie is 29 percent rotten on Rotten Tomatoes, but the audience score is better at 73 percent, so it seems like it could be a chill one for the ladies to enjoy over a glass of wine and shared laughs. 

The Broken Lizard comedy team returns on digital with Super Troopers 3, the third installment of the cult-favorite comedy franchise. Directed by Jay Chandrasekhar and written by the Broken Lizard team, Super Troopers 3 finds Trooper Rodney “Rod” Farva’s (Kevin Heffernan) Indiana engagement to Senior Trooper Arcot “Thorny” Ramathorn’s (Chandrasekhar) sister spiraling into chaos, which leads the Super Troopers to intervene so that Thorny’s schemes don’t break up the relationship, all while cracking the case on a pernicious new drug ring. The film also stars Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, and Erik Stolhanske, along with appearances from Brian Cox, Marisa Coughlan, Nat Faxon, and Chace Crawford.

Super Troopers began its journey in 2001, when the comedy became a modest hit on a $3 million budget, grossing $23 million worldwide. The film truly took off on home video, grossing $60 million from VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray rentals and becoming a cult classic. This was enough to support a sequel years later, in 2018, when Super Troopers 2 was released and earned $32 million on a $13.5 million budget. There is obviously a fanbase for this stuff, but they didn’t show up in force when the film was released over the summer (the film earned a mere $7.7 million). All the films are rated Rotten on Rotten Tomatoes, with the first film at 36 percent, the immediate sequel at 35 percent, and the recently released third installment at 51 percent. These films aren’t made for critics; they are strictly for the fans who helped turn them into cult favorites. All signs point to them being satisfied with this third entry, and home viewing should help it reach cult status alongside the other installments. 

Director Eli Roth comes home with a slasher film that turns little kids into homicidal maniacs after they consume sweet treats from the Ice Cream Man, a film he co-wrote with Noah Belson. In Ice Cream Man, an idyllic suburban neighborhood is turned on its head when a mysterious ice cream man begins serving tasty treats to children that turn them into murderous little cretins. The film stars Ari Millen, Charlie Zeltzer, Shiloh O’Reilly, Kiori Mirza Waldman, Sarah Abbott, and Benjamin Byron Davis.

Kudos to Roth for stepping outside the studio system after his Borderlands disaster to release Ice Cream Man. Iconic Events, an event cinema and film distribution company, released the film, and it falls under Roth’s The Horror Section banner. The $5.5 million horror film was funded partly out of his own pocket, and he cut out major Hollywood studios by financing the project through foreign pre-sales, Canadian tax credits, and backers from his The Horror Section company. However, according to reviews, the kudos stop there because, even for horror aficionados, Ice Cream Man is a mess that doesn’t even qualify as “so bad it’s good.” The film currently sits at 25 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, although the audience score is better but still not so great, at 46 percent. However, if any movie looks like a cult favorite in the making, it’s this one, if Roth can get beyond the criticism he has received for using Generative AI in certain scenes. That backlash might be scarier than anything in the film. 

Horror continues with the arrival of Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma on digital, a horror comedy written and directed by Jane Schoenbrun. The film follows a queer filmmaker (Hannah Einbinder) hired to direct the brand-new installment of Camp Miasma, who becomes obsessed with hiring the actress (Gillian Anderson) who portrayed the final girl in the original film. The movie also stars Jack Haven and Patrick Fischler.

Schoenbrun became truly one to watch after the release of I Saw the TV Glow. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and received a limited release from A24, along with glowing reviews (84 percent on Rotten Tomatoes). It appears Schoenbrun has scored again with Miasma, which is being praised as a love letter to slasher films, self-discovery, and filmmaking as a whole. Critics have received the movie well, and it is currently certified fresh at 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 79 percent audience score. The movie grossed $8.5 million on a $10 million budget during a limited run this summer, but I’d imagine that it’ll be a top pick this spooky season and beyond to watch at home. 

Families get something to watch at home and may want to check out the fantasy adventure film The Magic Faraway Tree, based on Enid Blyton’s popular book series The Faraway Tree. Directed by Ben Gregor and written by Simon Farnaby, The Magic Faraway Tree follows three young siblings who move to the countryside with their parents, only to discover a world full of magic and wonder. The film stars Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Nonso Anozie, Nicola Coughlan, Jessica Gunning, Jennifer Saunders, and Rebecca Ferguson. 

The Faraway Tree book series runs from 1939 to 1951, so the books aren’t currently popular, but other authors have written continuations published as recently as 2023. This is a case where the books are more well-known in the U.K. than they are here, but that hasn’t stopped filmmaker Farnaby from finding international success on the big screen. His biggest claim to fame is the Paddington franchise; after appearing in the first film, he went on to co-write Paddington 2 with Paul King, and he also co-wrote Wonka with the director. Paddington 2 was a critical darling and grossed $290.1 million on a $40 million budget, while Wonka was even more successful, grossing $634.5 million globally on a $125 million budget. The Magic Faraway Tree wasn’t as blessed at the box office, with a $35 million global gross, but that doesn’t mean the target audience won’t give it a shot now that it’s available at home. It’s the only family offering on digital this week, so maybe that will make it an enticing option. 

Another solid digital option is The Rivals of Amziah King, a neo-Western crime thriller written and directed by Andrew Patterson. In the film, Amziah King (Matthew McConaughey) is a beekeeper, musician, and anchor of his community who reunites with his foster daughter after years of separation, all while fending off threats to his honey business. The film also stars Angelina LookingGlass, Scott Shepherd, Rob Morgan, Tony Revolori, and Kurt Russell.

The Rivals of Amziah King premiered at the 2025 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival and earned solid reviews before Black Bear Pictures acquired it. The film is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes at 89 percent, with many critics saying it successfully balances various genre styles while anchored by a stellar performance from McConaughey and a noteworthy film debut from Angelina LookingGlass. The audience score is 81 percent, so whoever supported it to the tune of just $3 million at the box office enjoyed what they saw. McConaughey actually shows up twice as an option for at-home viewing, so if you’re looking to dabble in two very different sides of the actor, you can make a weekend out of it. 

For those looking to laugh, you get two options featuring someone destined to be a big movie star one day: Mason Thames. The first is Nimrods, a coming-of-age road comedy written and directed by Lee Kirk. The film follows three teenagers who travel from Kansas City to Los Angeles, believing that their band is opening for the legendary rock group Green Day on New Year’s Eve. The film stars Mason Thames, Kylr Coffman, Ryan Foust, Jenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey, Fred Armisen, Bobby Lee, Jolene Keen Ruffalo, Ignacio Diaz-Silverio, Sean Gunn, Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, Tre Cool, and McKenna Grace.

Nimrods received solid notices at the Toronto Film Festival and continues to hold onto them heading into its digital release. The film is 71 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, and many reviewers praise its use of music and genuine punk rock spirit. The movie is said to have a lot of heart, and who doesn’t like a good coming-of-age story set to the music of one of the signature bands that reignited mainstream interest in punk rock? The movie came and went during the summer, grossing just $1.3 million at the box office, but some films feel destined to be discovered at home, and this certainly fits the profile. 

Continuing the Mason Thames train, Idiots is now out on digital. Written and directed by Macon Blair, Idiots follows two people who have hit rock bottom as they’re tasked with transporting a rich, troubled teenager to rehab via a less-than-savory transport service. The movie stars Dave Franco, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Mason Thames, Kiernan Shipka, Nicholas Braun, and Peter Dinklage.

Everything about Idiots feels like a throwback to films we didn’t get much of anymore. A dark, unhinged R-rated comedy with less-than-desirable characters feels like a thing of the past, so in many ways, Idiots feels like a welcome return to form that we really need right now. The film’s original title, The Shitheads, certainly served it better and would’ve been more eye-catching, but the Independent Film Company likely thought it would make it tough to market. The movie premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival (with its original title) and received decent reviews (it’s currently 64 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, although the audience score is lower at 58 percent). Another film that came and went quickly, grossing a mere $1.2 million at the box office, Idiots could become a stoner cult classic down the line and currently functions as the perfect Mason Thames double feature with Nimrods. 

For those feeling romantic this weekend, The Love Hypothesis arrives on Prime Video to fulfill your needs. Directed by Claire Scanlon and written by Sarah Rothschild, The Love Hypothesis is adapted from the novel of the same name by Ali Hazelwood and follows a professor named Dr. Carlsen (Tom Bateman) and PhD student Olive Smith (Lili Reinhart) as they enter into a fake relationship to put their theories about relationships and love to the test. The film also stars Rachel Marsh, Jaboukie Young-White, Nicholas Duvernay, and Arty Froushan. 

Judging from the press junket alone, Reinhart and Bateman share an unforced chemistry that makes The Love Hypothesis worth checking out. If that isn’t enough, critics have received the film well, and it currently holds a 75 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with an audience score slightly higher at 79 percent. Critics say it’s enjoyably cheesy and follows the formula in all the right ways, so rom-com fans may find it the perfect movie to cozy up to this weekend.

Netflix dives into true crime with the crime drama, Unabomber, directed by Janus Metz Pederson and written by Sam Chalsen and Nelson Greaves. The film is a biographical drama that cross-cuts as it follows Ted Kaczynski’s (Jacob Tremblay) early years as a Harvard prodigy yet socially isolated genius who volunteers for verbally abusive psychological experiments, and the 1990s FBI manhunt that led to him becoming known as the Unabomber, as well as the subsequent search that led to his capture. The film also stars Russell Crowe, Annabelle Wallis, and Shailene Woodley.

The cast is great for this one, and the story of the Unabomber is pretty fascinating, but this may have been better served as a true-crime documentary rather than a narrative film. The movie is currently 33 percent rotten on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics saying the film is riddled with biopic tropes and a straightforward true crime narrative that doesn’t serve its talented cast well. Looks like the ball was dropped on this one, but don’t be surprised if it becomes a Netflix hit for two weeks before disappearing into obscurity.

McConaughey returns for home viewing alongside Woody Harrelson in the Apple TV comedy series Brothers. The actors share creation credit with Lee Eisenberg and David West Read, and the series gets a bit meta as it follows the fictional lives of McConaughey and Harrelson, whose friendship is put to the ultimate test when they decide to live together with their families on McConaughey’s Texas ranch. The big curveball is the discovery of a family secret that the two might be brothers. The show also stars Natalie Martinez, Holland Taylor, and Brittany Ishibashi. 

Brothers, funnily enough, comes from a real story in which McConaughey’s mother claimed to have a sexual encounter with Harrelson’s father around the time of his conception. No DNA test proved her credibility, but it did lead to a series of events that brought the two actors back together after their stellar turns in Season 1 of True Detective. Critics are mixed on Brothers at 53 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, but they all agree that the chemistry between McConaughey and Harrelson makes it worth watching, even if the series, so far, doesn’t always work as a whole. The first two episodes are now available on Apple TV, with the remaining episodes dropping weekly through Nov. 4.

Fans can return to Hillman College with the revival of A Different World, based on the sitcom of the same title that ran on NBC from 1987-1993. The new show follows Deborah Wayne (Maleah Joi Moon), the rebellious but kindhearted youngest child of Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy), as she enters her first year at Hillman College, where her parents met and fell in love. As she navigates college life, Deborah struggles to escape her parents’ shadow and build her own legacy among a new generation of Hillman College first-year students. The series also stars Alijah Kai, Cornell Young IV, Jordan Aaron Hall, Kennedi Reece, and Chibuikem Uche, among others.

The new A Different World is banking on nostalgia and goodwill to draw fans of the original series. The original show was a spin-off of The Cosby Show, originally centered on Lisa Bonet’s Denise Huxtable until she departed after the first season, and it earned its own voice as a staple of popular Black television from the late ‘80s into the early ‘90s. Will the show have cultural significance today? It’s possible. Peacock got a new take on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air off the ground with the more serious-toned Bel-Air series, which ran four seasons (and is getting its own spin-off), so there is certainly an audience for something once old that feels new again. The new show also pays respect to the original, with more stars from the original series set to appear, including Darryl M. Bell, Cree Summer, Dawnn Lewis, and Jada Pinkett Smith, who will be popping up at Hillman College. The show is well received so far, with a 79 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and critics say it pays proper homage to the originals while forging its own path. All ten episodes are now on Netflix to binge. 

Lastly, American Horror Story returns for a 13th season, and even though the series seems beyond its expiration date, it’s going for a sort of greatest-hits season that could intrigue fans. It’s being described as an Avengers-style crossover season, merging storylines and characters from across the franchise, most notably Seasons 1-5. The events are kicked off by a deadly plane crash that signals a harbinger of doom and Satan attempting to regain power. The season features fan-favorite returns, including Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Emma Roberts, and Angela Bassett, among others.

The first three episodes aired live on FX and are now available on Hulu, with 13 episodes set to air through Oct. 29. No critical reviews yet, but these high-profile returns may not be enough for fans so far, as the audience score for AHS: 13is 32 percent. Even with interest in this show subsiding, the return of Jessica Lange, portraying four of her highly regarded characters from the series and a new mystery role, might be enough to pull some back in. You can either watch American Horror Story live on FX or the next day on Hulu.

Check back next week when we keep you in the know about What To Watch!

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