Christmas comes a bit early this weekend with the release of the Johnny Depp comeback vehicle, Ebenezer, which leads the pack of movie choices to watch this weekend that also includes a group of bank robbers sticking it to the man while also creating some eye-catching viral content, Maika Monroe lighting up our screens as she should, and Jim Caviezel going full bad-ass in an action thriller that has already put up decent numbers heading into the weekend. Home viewing gets an interesting slate of digital releases (Other Mommy is about to become even more infamous at home), as the television side offers up choices for your binging pleasure.
What’s Opening In Theaters?
Johnny Depp will get to test whether the moviegoing public still loves him with the release of Ebenezer, directed by Ti West and written by Nathaniel Helpern. Ebenezer is based on the 1843 novella A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and Ebenezer Scrooge (Depp), a wealthy but miserable businessman who has no love for Christmas but finds himself on a road to redemption when he’s visited by three spirits. The film also stars Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, Sam Claflin, Daisy Ridley, Tramell Tillman, and Ian McKellen.
A lot is riding on Ebenezer for Depp because this is his first mainstream film in years, and it comes after all of that sordid business with Amber Heard and the trial that followed. While Depp emerged victorious, everything that emerged in the headlines hurt his career and bankability, but what worked in his favor is that the court of public opinion mostly fell on his side. Audiences seem willing to accept the actor back with open arms, but, just in case folks are reluctant, Paramount Pictures played it smart by paying the actor $5 million for his role (which seems like chump change compared to what he made at the heights of his popularity) and keeping the budget modest at $38 million. Pre-sales are said to be strong, despite the mixed reception from critics (53 percent on Rotten Tomatoes), and that’s due to the fact that audiences are probably more interested in seeing Depp do what he does best rather than focusing on Ebenezer’s actual quality as a motion picture. All signs point to this film being a decent hit and could be the starting point for Depp getting fully back into mainstream films again.
Photo credit: Megan Schoenbachler
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A film going for a totally different audience is the action-comedy heist film How to Rob a Bank, directed by David Leitch and written by Mark Bianculli. In the film, a crew of bank robbers uses social media to document all of the heists they have pulled off, and this puts them in the crosshairs of a determined FBI agent and a brilliant hacker. The movie stars Nicholas Hoult, Zoe Kravitz, Pete Davidson, Anna Sawaii, Rhenzy Feliz, and John C. Reilly.
I have to say that I was shocked when I checked the Rotten Tomatoes scores for this film this morning. It sits at 34 percent and, having seen the film last night, it’s a score that certainly doesn’t reflect how highly entertaining the film is, but also how much more the movie is beyond its highly stylized set pieces and depiction of viral content. How to Rob a Bank is a heist film for the TikTok generation but also speaks to a society that is sick and tired of a broken system and wants to fight against it. The movie is far more poignant in its message than any of the trailers have indicated, and one hopes it can break out this weekend, even though Amazon MGM Studios didn’t put as much promotional muscle behind it as they probably should have.
The movie was originally slated to open on Sept. 4, which honestly seems like a better date for a film like this to get noticed along with a possible bump from Labor Day weekend, but it was shifted to its current release date as some speculate that this was done because its subject matter speaks more to the current political climate that has only escalated following the midterm elections. Whatever the case may be, should How to Rob a Bank not gain the traction it needs this weekend, it feels like a movie destined to become a cult classic that will find itself discussed more prominently beyond its theatrical window.
Horror doesn’t want to take a weekend off with the release of Victorian Psycho, directed by Zachary Wigon and written by Virginia Feito. Based on Feito’s 2025 novel of the same name, Victorian Psycho is set in 1858 and follows eccentric governess Winifred Notty (Maika Monroe), who makes her arrival at the remote gothic manor Ensor House. As Winifred gets used to her surroundings, the staff also begins to mysteriously disappear, which makes the owners worry that something isn’t quite right about the new governess. The film also stars Thomasin McKenzie, Ruth Wilson, and Jason Isaacs.
Victorian Psycho premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival with Bleecker Street handling distribution for its theatrical release. Bleecker Street is becoming known more and more for its offbeat titles that resonate with critics, and this one is no different. Victorian Psycho has pulled in decent reviews, registering a 76 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviews saying that Monroe’s scene-stealing performance is worth the price of admission alone. Monroe can do no wrong in these eyes, and she gets my support whether she’s living it up as one of the genre’s leading performers or if she shows up in a Colleen Hoover adaptation (she did, and we forgive her). Victorian Psycho is opening in 1,206 theaters, so it’s not going ultra-wide but should be available for most looking for a horror film with a dash of blood-soaked sophistication.
Men and the adult demo have something to look forward to with the release of the action film Ghost Soldier, directed by William Eubank and written by Chris Papsadero. In the film, a weapons systems engineer and former Green Beret finds himself looking out for his Wyoming neighbors by any means necessary when a ruthless organization threatens their rural community. The film stars Jim Caviezel, Olivia Thirlby, Beau Knapp, Garret Dillahunt, and Shea Whigham.
Ghost Soldier got things started early on Veterans Day to take full advantage of the patriotic crowd, and that resulted in a decent $2.3 million gross on the holiday. This is the kind of movie that plays well to the demo it’s catering to, and that should allow it to perform decently through the weekend. Reviews aren’t too good, at 42 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics saying the action is top-notch but pointing out the absurdity of the plot. However, moviegoers seem to enjoy it, with a 90 percent audience score, so if Ghost Soldier seems like a film that’s usually up your alley, it could be one to check out this weekend.
What To Watch At Home
The digital releases are a bit of a mix this week. Both of the main debuts were both financially successful but one falls on the very poor critical side while the other scored surprisingly strong reviews back in September. In addition, B-movie horror gets an arachnid creature feature to add to the bunch, while the television side sees an epic returning favorite and a new binge-worthy series that is already generating positive buzz.
Arriving on digital after a financially successful critical beating is Other Mommy, a supernatural psychological horror film directed by Rob Savage and written by Nathan Elston. In the film, which is based on the 2024 novel Incidents Around the House, Jessica Chastain stars as a mother who has to protect her young daughter (portrayed by Arabella Olivia Clark) from the “other mommy,” which is a supernatural entity that happens to look just like her. The movie also stars Jay Duplass, Dichen Lachman, Arian Moayed, and Karen Allen.
Other Mommy generated considerable buzz over the summer when its first trailer was attached to showings of The Odyssey and scared the hell out of unsuspecting moviegoers, who weren’t expecting to get a horror movie trailer attached to a Christopher Nolan epic. The image of Chastain all twisted up underneath a table proved to be a jump scare that got people talking, and suddenly Other Mommy looked poised to be another horror surprise in a year when the genre has been red hot. This all changed as the release date drew closer and closer. No press screenings. Very little press in general, and first reactions were scarce because Universal Pictures seemed to be holding that review embargo as long as they could. They clearly did this for a reason because reviews were dismal at 19 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, but credit must be given where credit is due. Other Mommy made money and was successful despite the critical lashing it received ($116 million worldwide gross on a $19 million budget). Now that it can be watched at home, expect more images, videos, and memes to pop up online as more people discover it and likely accept it in a so-bad-it’s-good kind of way.
Arriving on digital with a much stronger critical reception 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 84 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and it boasts an even better 94 percent audience score. The film was also incredibly successful, grossing $189 million worldwide on an $82 million budget thanks to the international appeal of Pitt and the universal love for dogs. Heart of the Beast will most definitely continue its impressive run on digital.
In case you missed it in theaters, Avengers: Endgame Encore is now available on Disney+. The release features new footage, a custom introduction, and a new post-credits scene that serves as a bridge to Avengers: Doomsday. With VisionQuest getting fans even more excited with THAT post-credits scene, don’t be surprised if Avengers: Endgame Encore becomes a top-watched film on the platform due to even more interest in Avengers: Doomsday.
Avengers: Endgame Encore earned $26 million during its domestic opening back in September and $86 million worldwide, proving that there is no superhero fatigue and fans are eagerly anticipating Doomsday. The re-release ultimately added over $140 million to the film’s global gross, which pushed Endgame to $2.942 billion and allowed it to reclaim the all-time global box office crown from Avatar. For those who couldn’t experience the Encore in theaters, Disney+ now has you covered for all your Doomsday homework.
For those of you interested in testing your fear of spiders, Crawlers arrives on digital to satisfy those creepy-crawly needs. Directed by Angel Gomez Hernandez, Crawlers follows the residents of an apartment complex that becomes infested with venomous spiders. While trapped under quarantine, their main hope for survival is a young girl named Serena (Matilda Lutz), who uses her knowledge of the building to help them escape while also facing her own arachnophobia. The film also stars Gregg Sulkin, William Miller, and Melina Matthews.
Crawlers is decently reviewed at 63 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and even though critics say it doesn’t break any new ground, it’s still a short 86-minute thrill ride that gets under your skin. You have to appreciate a movie that knows what it is, comes in, and gets out without making too much of a fuss. Be warned, though: I’m hearing that if you do have a fear of spiders, this one is a tough watch, so proceed with a lot of caution.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power returns for a third season to continue the epic fantasy drama’s run on Amazon Prime Video. Developed by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s history of Middle-earth, primarily material from the appendices of the novel The Lord of the Rings. The show is set thousands of years before the novel and focuses on the events of Middle-earth’s Second Age.
After The Rings of Power premiered, it became the most-watched Prime Video original series and received strong reviews from critics for its visuals and designs, but fans were more critical of the series’ pacing and writing. The show also had to deal with outspoken Tolkien fans and trolls who criticized the series for its diverse casting choices. Things improved with Season 2 after changes were made to improve the storytelling, but the viewership came in lower. Amazon Prime Video had a lot invested in The Rings of Power (they wanted it to be their Game of Thrones), which resulted in them throwing a lot of money into it. That could be why the series is carrying on into a third season because Amazon can afford the investment and they see the long-term international appeal of the show. The third season is certified fresh at 81 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, which is slightly down from the 84 percent of Season 1 and the 85 percent of Season 2, but still in line with what the show has been offering. The first four episodes of The Rings of Power premiered on Nov. 11, while the next episodes will be delivered in two-episode batches on Nov. 18 and Nov. 25.
Arriving on Netflix with considerable buzz is the coming-of-age psychological supernatural horror drama The Body, created by Quinn Shephard. The series follows a group of Catholic schoolgirls on Halloween in 2004 who begin experiencing prophetic visions that trigger a wave of hysteria throughout their community. The series stars Kristina Bogic, Sara Boustany, Geena Meszaros, Nnambdi Asomugha, Louisa Krause, Shirley Chen, and Sofia Wylie.
Social media is already buzzing about the show, and it has already moved up the charts on Netflix since premiering on Nov. 11. Reviews are strong at 84 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics lauding how it depicts the deep bonds of female relationships while also offering an enticing supernatural element. The audience score is more telling at 98 percent, which proves that Netflix may have found a show that they can carry into future seasons and turn into an even bigger hit as it goes along. All episodes are now available to stream on Netflix.
Check back next week when we keep you know about What To Watch!
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