What To Watch This Weekend! – ‘The End of Oak Street’ Winds Down The Summer

The summer movie season is cooling off after one of the best ones we’ve had at the box office in a while. With August well underway and many of the blockbusters behind us, it may seem like moviegoers have exhausted all of their options, but this weekend offers up one surprise that could end up being the hit many didn’t see coming. The End of Oak Street is ready to make dinosaurs scary again, but should that not be of interest, there are some smaller players to catch on the big screen, while home viewing gives film lovers some titles to catch up on that they may have missed earlier this summer, along with the action-packed return of a fan favorite series.

What’s Opening In Theaters?

This weekend brings audiences The End of Oak Street, a science fiction survival film written and directed by David Robert Mitchell, best known for his horror movie breakout film, It Follows. The End of Oak Street focuses on a family whose suburban neighborhood literally becomes upended when it is overrun by prehistoric creatures. The film stars Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor, Maisy Stella, and Christian Convery.

What’s interesting about The End of Oak Street is that it wrapped principal photography in March 2024 and was originally intended for release in May of last year, then on March 13, 2026, before shifting to this weekend in August. While that’s usually a sign of concern, it could’ve very well been that Warner Bros. was looking for the perfect weekend to position the film because after its first press screenings, reviews were glowing, with many declaring that the movie is the best dinosaur film since 1993’s Jurassic Park. That’s extremely high praise that will go a long way with moviegoers.

The film is currently 84 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with 115 reviews counted, and it may just prove that not all late August releases are summer leftovers. Spider-Man: Brand New Day will easily top the weekend, but The End of Oak Street could prove to be a strong second and may have strong legs if word of mouth is as strong as the reviews. Also, kudos to Anne Hathaway who is having a banner year. This could be her third hit of the summer after The Devil Wears Prada 2 and The Odyssey. With Verity on its way in October and Mother Mary seemingly finding its audience on streaming, The End of Oak Street will be another edition to this being one hell of a time for one of the best actresses working today.

Nimrods Hits Theaters

Following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, the coming-of-age road comedy Nimrods hits the big screen. Written and directed by Lee Kirk, Nimrods 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 that has continued into its opening weekend. It’s 84 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with 32 reviews counted, and many reviewers are praising the film’s use of music and its 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? Should you find this playing in your area, it seems like one to check out, but my gut feeling is that this film will find its cult following once it’s more accessible at home.

Paw Patrol For The Kids

If you’re looking for something for the kiddos to enjoy, Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie is here to step in for Toy Story 5 and Minions & Monsters, which are wrapping up their lucrative summer runs. Based on the television series Paw Patrol created by Keith Chapman, Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie is directed by Cal Brunker, who co-wrote the film alongside Bob Barlen. Serving as a sequel to Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, the Dino Movie sees the Paw Patrol crash-landing on a dinosaur-populated island where they have to engage in a series of rescues. The film features the vocal talent of Carter Young, McKenna Grace, Terry Crews, Jennifer Hudson, Fortune Feimster, Jameela Jamil, Bill Nye, Paris Hilton, Snoop Dogg, and Henry Bolan.

Never underestimate IPs aimed at children. Paw Patrol may not be on my radar, but it’s certainly on the radar of most kids and the families who are more than happy (or forced) to take them to see it. The show has become one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time since its debut and has generated billions of dollars in revenue, particularly in toy sales. The previous film, The Mighty Movie, was no slouch at the box office, grossing $65.2 million domestically and $205 million worldwide on a $30 million budget. Don’t be surprised if this film follows suit because reviews are also pretty good for the new installment, registering an 85 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes with 20 reviews counted. Perhaps the perfect double feature is the scary dinosaurs of Oak Street followed by the more lovable prehistoric throwbacks from The Dino Movie. Everybody wins.

The Brink Of War For Some Drama

Adults get a little something that might be up their alley with The Brink of War, a historical political drama written and directed by Michael Russell Gunn in his feature directorial debut. The film is set during the Reykjavik Summit of 1986, which was a meeting between President Ronald Reagan and Soviet general secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. Talks fell apart at the last minute, but enough progress was made to result in the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union. The film stars Jeff Daniels, Jared Harris, J.K. Simmons, and Hope Davis, among others.

Reviews are mixed at the moment for The Brink of War at 57 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with 14 reviews counted, but these adult-skewing period dramas sometimes surprise and play well to the target audience. Young Washington did just that earlier this summer with a 60 percent Rotten Tomatoes score on its way to grossing $46.9 million against a $20 million budget. There isn’t a ton of buzz surrounding The Brink of War, but it could be a choice for the target demo looking to avoid the typical summer movie fare.

What To Watch At Home

Home viewing is all about variety this weekend. One of the best films and comedies of the summer, which has also garnered award-season buzz, arrives on digital, alongside Minions poking fun at old Hollywood, adults and families alike being reminded of the historic exploits of George Washington, and the Jackass crew coming back for one last hurrah. In addition, Reacher is back for a fourth season that has continued the show’s critically acclaimed run.

The Invite hits digital and it more than deserves your attention. Directed by and co-starring Olivia Wilde and from a screenplay by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, The Invite is an English-language remake of the 2020 Spanish film The People Upstairs by Cesc Gay and follows Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Wilde), whose marriage is on thin ice. Things take an interesting turn when they invite their upstairs neighbors over for a dinner party that takes the night into some truly unexpected places. The film also stars Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton. 

The Invite first generated heat at the Sundance Film Festival and turned it into a pretty solid summer run. The film is one of the biggest for A24, grossing $45.3 million worldwide and likely being their frontrunner for awards attention. The movie appealed to older audiences for its sophisticated humor and commentary on relationships in which one feels stifled and repressed while the other feels alive and sexually liberated. Its thought-provoking themes and genuine laugh-out-loud moments impressed audiences and critics, generating a 97 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an impressive 89 percent audience score. Here’s to hoping its digital release keeps that buzz going all the way through awards season.

The Minions Come Home With Some Monsters

Minions & Monsters hits home and that’s even while it’s still in the top ten of the box office as of this writing. Directed by Pierre Coffin and based on a screenplay he co-wrote with Brian Lynch, Minions & Monsters is the third installment of the Minions prequel series. Set in 1927, 41 years before the events of their film, it follows the titular characters as they try to make a monster movie in Old Hollywood. The film features the vocal talent of Coffin as the Minions, alongside Allison Janney, Trey Parker, Christoph Waltz, Jeff Bridges, Jesse Eisenberg, Zoey Deutch, Bobby Moynihan, and Phil LaMarr.

There is no denying the appeal of the Minions brand. Across the seven films, which include the Despicable Me installments, the franchise has grossed over $5.6 billion globally. It holds the distinction of being the first animated franchise to hit this benchmark and did so while keeping the budgets relatively low, keeping the production costs between $75 million and $100 million per movie. Minions & Monsters, despite performing on the low-end of the franchise, has still pulled in $177.7 million domestically and $475.3 million worldwide, and counting. 

As for the film itself, it’s 89 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the best-reviewed film of the franchise to date, and it’s 75 percent audience score is nothing to sneeze at either. It’s clear that while kids loved the typical antics of the titular characters, adults got a kick out of its Old Hollywood jokes thanks to its throwback premise to the movies. Minions & Monsters is bound to delight families at home, much like it did in theaters.

For those wanting something a big more profound and historic to watch at home, Young Washington hits digital after a solid box office run this summer. Directed by Jon Erwin and from a screenplay he co-wrote with Tom Provost and Diederik Hoogstraten, Young Washington follows the early life of the first president of the United States, George Washington (William Franklyn-Miller), and emphasizes his experiences during the French and Indian War. The film also stars Mary-Louise Parker, Kelsey Grammer, and Andy Serkis. 

Young Washington premiered at the Tribeca Festival in early June and emerged with so-so reviews at 60 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. This is a film that has a very targeted audience, and it played well in middle America, especially as our nation was celebrating its 250th birthday. Grossing over $46 million on a $20 million budget is impressive, especially since the film didn’t receive a huge marketing push and was driven by the target demo. Young Washington had a solid run in theaters that will more than likely continue with audiences at home.

Also, hitting digital is one last crazy and painful laugh with the Jackass crew, with Jackass: Best and Last, a sort of goodbye and celebration of the antics that made them the most unconventional stars. Directed by Jeff Tremaine, Jackass: Best and Last is a compilation of stunts, skits, and pranks that mixes old and new footage along with never-before-seen footage. The film features original Jackass members Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Preston Lacy, Dave England, and Danger Ehren, along with Poopies, Zach Holmes, Jasper Dolphin, and Rachel Wolfson, who were introduced in 2022’s Jackass Forever. 

Jackass: Best and Last isn’t full of new material and mixes in old but classic stunts and skits, but that doesn’t mean this greatest-hits compilation isn’t worth checking out. It’s fun checking in with old friends, and that’s what this turns out to be. Fans know what they’re getting into with this stuff, and given the fact that the series was not only popular, but the films themselves have grossed over $560 million globally across five modestly budgeted movies before this compilation came to be. Best and Last grossed $27.6 million in theaters, but that felt more like a fun marketing run for what should be an even better showing at home.

Action fans will also be fed at home with the return of Reacher for its fourth season. Developed by Nick Santora, Reacher is based on the Jack Reacher novel series by Lee Child and follows the title character, portrayed by Alan Ritchson, a self-proclaimed drifter and former U.S. Army officer. Known for his strength, intellect, and unmatched abilities, the series follows his travels as he crosses paths with various dangerous criminals and engages in kicking ass as if he were born to do it. Season 4 also stars Sydelle Noel, Agnez Mo, Anggun, Christopher Marquette, Kevin Corrigan, Kevin Weisman, Marc Blucas, Kathleen Robertson, and Dean Armstrong.

Season 4 of Reacher adapts the thirteenth novel, Gone Tomorrow, which follows Reacher as he encounters a troubled woman named Anna Merrick, and the story takes a very dangerous turn. From there, Reacher finds himself caught up in a deadly conspiracy that has him in battle with some of his toughest enemies to date, who work at the highest levels of power. Reviews for the series continue to be strong, with the fourth season registering a 92 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Critics love the show because it knows what its and audiences love it for the very same reason, with the addition that it’s admirably led by Ritchson, who not only looks the part but breathes the part. Viewers can watch this season with ease because it has already been renewed for Season 5, which means more Reacher action is coming. The first three episodes of Season 4 premiered on Aug. 12, while subsequent episodes will drop weekly on Prime Video through Sept. 16.

Check back next week when we fill you in on What To Watch!

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