August comes to a close this weekend, and with it, so does the summer movie season. The last two weeks may have felt a tad lackluster considering how robust things were from May through July, but moviegoers should be proud. According to reports, the summer box office is $280 million away from matching 2013’s $4.756 billion high, and since the industry counts summer as 130 days this year (the first Friday in May through Labor Day Monday, September 7), there is a chance that record will be broken.
That’s all to say: moviegoing is healthy following the dark days of the pandemic. People are going to the movies, and this weekend should prove no different, even though the offerings don’t suggest robust box office. There is a big chance that the shelved and then revived Coyote vs. Acme could surprise if it gets as much support as the internet suggests, plus we have Ridley Scott returning to theaters, a horror movie trapped in a children’s television show nightmare, and some smaller films also fighting for an audience. Home viewing this weekend is a little light, but that just gives you all more of a reason to head to your local theater and support what’s out there.
What’s Opening In Theaters?
Social media cinephiles have a chance to put their money where their mouth is with the release of the live-action animated legal comedy, Coyote vs. Acme, featuring a mix of live-action performers and beloved members of the Looney Tunes IP. Directed by Dave Green and written by Samy Burch, who is working from a story by James Gunn, Jeremy Slater, and Burch, Coyote vs. Acme is based on the 1990 The New Yorker magazine article “Coyote v. Acme” by Ian Frazier. In the film, Wile E. Coyote enlists a billboard attorney named Kevin Avery (Will Forte) to sue the Acme Corporation for repeatedly selling him faulty products used in his frequent encounters with the Road Runner. The film also stars John Cena, Lana Condor, Tone Bell, Luis Guzman, Martha Kelly, P.J. Byrne, Kenneth Choi, and Eric Bauza, who leads the voice cast.
Coyote vs. Acme’s road to the big screen is a triumphant one, but it wasn’t without its hurdles. Warner Bros. Discovery initially shelved the finished film in November 2023 to use it as a tax write-off. The decision resulted in immediate backlash, especially since Warner Bros. did the same thing with the nearly finished Batgirl film. Making the move even more head-scratching was that test screenings were said to be VERY good, with some comparing the film favorably to the acclaimed Who Framed Roger Rabbit? After the backlash grew to a fever pitch, Warner Bros. reversed the decision and allowed the filmmakers to seek other distributors for the film.
The situation grew dire when negotiations didn’t pan out with our suitors, but like a beacon of light, in walks Ketchup Entertainment, who acquired the rights for $50 million in March 2025. The company previously acquired the distribution rights to Warner Bros. Animation’s The Day the Earth Blew Up in 2024, so it felt like a perfect fit for the company. Now, with Ketchup Entertainment doing its part, will moviegoers follow suit after causing such an uproar when the film was shelved? All signs point to a potential yes. Pre-sales have been solid (suggesting an opening between $15-22 million), and it seems like it’s getting the attention of adults and children alike. Warner Bros. may have let go of a good one here (it’s likely they didn’t know how to promote the animated/live-action hybrid), and reviews really drive this home as well.
Coyote vs. Acme is currently 95 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with 155 reviews counted, in addition to a word of mouth friendly 92 percent audience score. The film could end up being a late summer surprise that is richly deserved after its long journey to the big screen.
Ridley Scott returns to the big screen following 2024’s Gladiator II with the post-apocalyptic science fiction film The Dog Stars, based on the 2012 novel of the same name by Peter Heller. Written by Mark L. Smith, The Dog Stars takes place after a devastating flu pandemic has nearly eradicated humanity. Primarily focusing on a former civilian pilot named High (Jacob Elordi) and a former Marine named Bangley (Josh Brolin), the pair has to confront outside threats and hope for a better life outside of the one they’re currently living in. The film also stars Margaret Qualley, Allison Janney, Guy Pearce, and Benedict Wong.
The release date for The Dog Stars suggests that 20th Century Studios/Disney merely dumped the film and hoped for the best, but this is Ridley Scott we’re talking about here. Even a director like this, in his twilight years, deserves more respect than that. Reports say that Disney chose the date because it was far away from bigger hits like The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and it could work as counterprogramming for those seeking something a little different.
Lead Jacob Elordi is coming off of Wuthering Heights performing well at the box office, and an Oscar nomination for his role in Frankenstein. It seems like he’s attempting to become a viable movie star and lead, but The Dog Stars, given early reactions and reviews, might be a speed bump on that journey. The Dog Stars is rated rotten at 41 percent on the aggregator site, with 128 reviews counted, with most critics faulting the script and a sluggish pace. The studio kept the budget low at $70 million, so at least it’s not an expensive endeavor, but moviegoers may go another round with Spidey and Odysseus rather than support this post-apocalyptic effort. That being said, Scott is a filmmaking treasure, no matter what anyone tries to say, so if you’re at all interested in The Dog Stars, check it out for that reason alone.
An interesting little horror film arrives in the form of the supernatural comedy slasher, Buddy. Directed by Casper Kelly in his directorial feature film debut, Buddy comes from a screenplay by Kelly and Jamie King and follows a group of children who are trapped inside a 1990s-style children’s television show and attempt to escape when their bright-orange host turns into a horrific nightmare. The film stars Cristin Milioti, Delaney Quinn, Patton Oswalt, Michael Shannon, Topher Grace, and Keegan-Michael Key.
Buddy premiered during the Midnight section at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and began building buzz amongst genre aficionados as a result. Roadside Attractions and Saban Films acquired the North American distribution rights out of the festival and began a niche but effective marketing campaign that was more centered on social media and played into the film’s children’s television-inspired premise. It’s hard to tell if Buddy will gain traction with the masses this weekend, but it should hit in a significant way with the demo it has been targeting since it started its promotional run.
The movie opens at 1,500 locations, so it’s not expected to be huge this weekend, but it should be enough to get people talking. The film is currently 87 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with 61 reviews counted (and has an encouraging 82 percent audience score), so here’s to hoping it has a decent box office footprint this weekend before heading towards its inevitable cult status.
Dark R-rated comedy gets its shot this weekend with the release of Idiots, written and directed by Macon Blair. In the film, two people who have hit rock bottom are tasked with transporting a rich and troubled teenager to rehab by 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 60 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), but marketing hasn’t been strong, likely because it’s working with as much as IFC can give it. Idiots feels like it will find its audience after its theatrical run, but definitely one to check out on the big screen this weekend if you’re looking for no-holds-barred laughs.
For those looking for a nostalgic throwback in the best way, Terminator 2: Judgment Day returns to the big screen for its 35th anniversary beginning this weekend through Fathom Entertainment. The movie will be available in 4K restoration, RealD 3D, 4DX, and D-BOX premium formats at select locations, and tickets are available through Fathom Entertainment and major theater chains. T2 will run through September 2 with a special focus on August 29, which is the fictional “Judgment Day” referenced in the film. If you have a chance to see this James Cameron classic on the big screen, don’t miss out.
What To Watch At Home
Home viewing is decidedly light this week, but you do get a Netflix original starring Robert De Niro, a live theater capture of a hit musical, and a pair of smaller releases from the summer that hope to cement some kind of cult status after not quite hitting at the box office. Plus, on the television side of things, an FX series returns for what has already been called an improvement over its first season.
Hitting Netflix is The Whisper Man, a crime thriller directed by James Ashcroft. Written by Ben Jacoby and Chase Palmer, The Whisper Man is based on the novel of the same name by Alex North and follows a man who, after his 8-year-old son is kidnapped, turns to his estranged father, a retired police detective, for help tracking him down. Adding to the mystery is that his son’s abduction has a connection to a decades-old case involving a convicted serial killer known as The Whisper Man. The film stars Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan, Adam Scott, Michael Keaton, John Carroll Lynch, Hamish Linklater, and Owen Teague.
Normally, The Whisper Man would feel like instantly forgettable Netflix fodder (that will likely be number one in its opening days and then quickly forgotten), but this cast is way too good to just toss this one aside. With about 14 reviews tallied on Rotten Tomatoes, The Whisper Man currently carries a 57 percent, but that’s certainly more mixed than some of their original films that perform far less favorably. The cast alone makes this one worth a quick look if you have the time.
Arriving on digital is Hadestown: The Musical, a film presenting the live stage recording of the hit musical of the same name, which won Best Musical and Best Original Score at the 73rd Tony Awards. Directed by Brett Sullivan, the film features five principal cast members of the original Broadway production, which blends versions of two ancient Greek myths, Orpheus and Eurydice and Hades and Persephone, as commentary on various themes that endure within those stories and continue to do so today.
Hadestown: The Musical was released by Bleecker Street in July and pulled in a decent $21 million at the box office. That proves that interest was high in seeing the musical on the big screen, either by those who already expereinced it on Broadway or by those who weren’t lucky enough to catch the live experience. The digital release provides another opportunity to check it out. By the way, this one was loved by critics and audiences alike, hitting 97 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a 98 percent audience score.
Also hitting digital, after a polarizing Cannes Film Festival run and blink-and-you-miss-it theatrical outing, is the science fiction thriller Her Private Hell, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn from a script he co-wrote alongside Esti Giordani. In the film, a futuristic metropolis is engulfed by a mysterious mist that unleashes an entity known as the Leather Man, as another storyline begins to intertwine, involving a privileged actress navigating a life of debauchery. The movie stars Sophie Thatcher, Charles Melton, Havana Rose Liu, Kristine Froseth, Shioli Kutsuna, Aoi Yamada, Dougray Scott, Diego Calva, and Hidetoshi Nishijima.
As a director, Refn impressed with 2011’s Drive, but the majority of his filmography is an acquired taste that has split critics and audiences alike. Her Private Hell has certainly already done that, currently registering a 40 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling it a beautiful hot mess while others have called it a straight-up disaster. The movie grossed $1 million during its theatrical run, but this one always felt like a messy cult favorite waiting to happen. It’s going to be interesting to see where its life goes from here.
Lastly, Motor City, which opened the same theatrical weekend as Her Private Hell, arrives on digital. Directed by Potsy Poncirolli and written by Chad St. John, Motor City follows an ex-con named John Miller (Alan Ritchson) who is thirsty for revenge after a gangster (portrayed by Ben Foster) framed him for a crime he didn’t commit and stole his girlfriend (portrayed by Shailene Woodley). The film also stars Pablo Schreiber & Lionel Boyce.
Motor City was decently reviewed back in July at 63 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and it has an interesting hook where there are only about five lines of dialogue spoken in the film while action scenes and a rock soundtrack drive the plot. It wasn’t enough to make the $30 million film make a dent at the box office (it grossed a mere $2.9 million), but Alan Ritchson’s Reacher following could make this a bigger hit at home as more people discover it.
Returning for a second season is the television sitcom Adults, created by Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw. Adults follows a group of young friends in their twenties as they navigate the challenges of early adulthood while living in Queens, New York. The series stars Malik Elassal, Lucy Freyer, Jack Innanen, Amita Rao, and Owen Thiele.
The first season of Adults registered a 74 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with most critics praising the sitcom format and allowing Gen-Z to have its own “adult” comedy about the trials and tribulations of early adulthood, but with a comedic twist. Critics believe that the show has really hit its stride with Season 2, which has so far improved its reviews with a 100 percent on the aggregator site. The writers seem to have a firm grasp on who the characters are, and there is an opportunity for the show to enter the pop culture zeitgeist in a significant way with its current season. Adults began airing Season 2 with two episodes on Aug. 27 on FX and FXX, but you can also check out the show on Hulu and Disney+, where episodes will be dropping weekly for its eight-episode second season through mid-September.
Check back next week when we keep you in the know about What To Watch!
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