Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of Movie Reviews 2026 – your all-important guide to the latest films. In this instalment, you’ll find reviews for Disney-Pixar’s new animated movie, Hoppers; swashbuckling action film, The Bluff; and Gothic romance, The Bride!.
Plus, if you’re craving some ‘80s fantasy, Excalibur is back on disc. The medieval epic has just received a swish new release, and you can find out all the details below.
—
In cinemas…
Hoppers (2026)
First up this week is the Disney-Pixar animated adventure movie, Hoppers. Directed by Daniel Chong, and featuring the voice talents of Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Kathy Najimy, and Dave Franco, the movie follows the story of a young woman desperate to save a nature reserve from destruction.
In the film, Mabel Tanaka grew up with a deep respect for nature. Some of this was down to her general interest in animals, but a large part was due to Mabel’s grandmother, who showed Mabel the importance of respecting nature.
During Mabel’s youth, the pair bonded over a local glade, where they would sit, relax, and watch the wildlife come and go. And as Mabel grew older, the glade became a sacred spot following the passing of her grandmother.
So, when the glade is suddenly under threat from destruction and redevelopment, Mabel jumps into action to save the day. But as a one-woman operation, who simply can’t get any support, she finds herself hitting a significant stumbling block.
This is until Mabel comes across experimental technology which allows her to place her consciousness inside the body of a robot beaver. Under the guise of the faux-beaver, Mabel is able to speak directly to the animals which she hopes will aid in her fight for the glade’s survival.
Over the last few years, the Disney-Pixar brand has wobbled a little, going from a succession of brilliant pictures to a few so-so films. For every Soul and Luca, there has been an Elio or an Elemental, and quite frankly a few have missed the mark.
Thankfully, Hoppers doesn’t miss the mark and is instead one of the good ones. Not only is this a heartfelt and emotive picture, with an important message about co-existence, it’s also highly entertaining and creative.
Whether it’s Mabel (disguised as a beaver) attempting to interact with other animals with humorous consequences, or a sequence involving a floating shark attack, there’s a lot of fun to be had in the film. There’s also a real likability and charm to the story, which is similar to the earlier, and arguably stronger pictures in Pixar’s portfolio.
Despite the fantastical flourishes of the premise, Mabel’s plight to save the animals and honour her grandmother’s legacy is something which remains a key part of the story. This isn’t just a film about a girl transforming into a beaver to save a glade, it’s a deeply moving picture about a person holding on to something which was important to her grandmother.
This taps into what often makes for the better Pixar stories: The humanity. Hoppers may concern itself with animals and body-hopping antics, but it’s the human story playing out in the background which ensures this one has plenty to say.
All-in-all, Hoppers is imaginative, delightful stuff, which provides plenty of escapism, while also delivering a powerful message. The idea that humans and animals need to co-exist is an important one, and the film understands this and delivers it in a meaningful way.
But beyond this, Hoppers also taps into the idea that we could all learn a great deal from walking in each other’s shoes or seeing things from a different perspective. A little time spent thinking about how we are all connected could go a long way.
Should you wish to take a look at Hoppers, the movie is now playing in UK and US cinemas. It’s recommended.
—
Now streaming…
The Bluff (2026)
Sliding over to streaming now for the swashbuckling action-adventure film, The Bluff. Directed by Frank E. Flowers and starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Karl Urban, the movie focuses on a bad-ass mother squaring off against fearsome pirates.
In the film, the year is 1846 and a ship filled with pirates arrives at the island of Cayman Brac. Led by the menacing Captain Connor, the pirates are searching for gold and won’t stop looking until they get it.
But what Captain Connor and his crew don’t expect, is to encounter resistance in the shape of a very resourceful young mother (and former pirate) named Ercell, who kicks ass and takes no shit. Ercell is very keen to protect her family and her home, and will beat the living daylights out of anyone who gets in her way.
Playing out a bit like Die Hard on an island, The Bluff is a perfectly acceptable action romp which won’t blow anyone out of the water but does provide enough entertainment for its 100-minute runtime. The fight sequences are rather well done; Priyanka Chopra Jonas proves to be a very effective lead; and the island backdrop delivers some rather luscious visuals.
The best parts are the scenes of spectacle, while the not-so great parts are when everyone tries to take things a bit too seriously. That said, there is some enjoyment from watching Karl Urban chewing the scenery while delivering a cod ‘Oirish’ accent.
It’s of course not perfect (the film, not the accent), and a few tweaks to the script could have turned The Bluff into more of a sword-swaggering romp, but it’s fine for what it is. If all you are after is a couple of hours in front of the TV with a formidable action heroine and some scurvy sea dogs, then The Bluff should cater accordingly.
Should you wish to take a look, The Bluff is now streaming on Prime Video.
—
On disc…
Excalibur (1981)
Sticking with adventure films, but switching to disc now for director John Boorman’s dark fantasy, Excalibur. Originally released in 1981, the movie is now available on limited edition 4K UHD and Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow.
Starring Nigel Terry, Nicol Williamson, Helen Mirren, Patrick Stewart, Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byrne, and Ciarán Hinds, the film focuses on the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. The movie covers Merlin, Morgan le Fay, The Lady of the Lake, the Holy Grail, and of course the titular Excalibur – Arthur’s rather swish sword – and is an epic tale, as well as arguably the best looking take on the Arthurian legend.
The visuals on display in Excalibur are truly arresting. Largely filmed on location in Ireland, the landscape has never looked so beautiful, while the costumes, props, and set designs, are truly magnificent.
As for the script, well, it doesn’t quite hit the same high notes as what can be seen on screen, and when it comes to some of the line delivery there IS A LOT OF SHOUTING, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a film so committed to exploring King Arthur. For better or worse, everything but the kitchen sink is chucked at the screen, Boorman gives it his all, and for those interested in getting lost in the majestic splendour of the film, there really isn’t much like it.
It’s not for everyone, but some love Excalibur. And even those who are less enthused about it can at the very least appreciate the scope and scale of the movie.
As noted above, Excalibur is available on 4K UHD or you can pick it up on Blu-ray. The former costs around £35, while the latter is around £30.
The limited edition set features three discs, and includes two versions of the movie: The Theatrical Cut (141 mins) and the TV Cut (120 mins). Meanwhile special features range from audio commentaries, image galleries, and trailers, to newly filmed interviews and a retrospective documentary.
The set also includes The Making of Excalibur: Myth into Movie. This is a never before released documentary directed by Neil Jordan during the production of the film.
And if all that wasn’t enough, the discs come housed in fancy packaging, with a reversible sleeve. Art cards, a double-sided poster, and a booklet are also included.
—
In cinemas…
The Bride! (2026)
And finally, it’s back to the cinema for Gothic romance, The Bride!. Written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, and inspired by the 1935 Universal horror, Bride of Frankenstein, the movie stars Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Penélope Cruz, and follows the story of a murdered woman who is reanimated as the titular ‘Bride’.
In the movie, it’s the 1930s and in Chicago Frankenstein’s Monster asks Dr. Euphronius to create a companion. Frank is lonely, he doesn’t feel fulfilled, and he craves someone to share his life with.
After Euphronius agrees to help him out, the pair dig up the body of a recently deceased young woman and reanimate her. Once the woman is brought back from the dead, Frank convinces her she is his soon-to-be bride, and the pair embark on a romance which takes them to New York and beyond.
Along the way the duo partake in a spot of murder, which in turn attracts the attention of two detectives. But can they escape the law and have their happy ever after?
OK, so it’s let’s be clear about this one: The Bride! is an acquired taste. It’s not awful, but it’s not great either and it’s far from an easy or thoroughly enjoyable ride.
The eponymous character played by Jessie Buckley is often quite annoying; the story drags on; and there are moments where it’s a bit too bizarre for its own good. At various points in the film the picture goes off down a path which makes it more akin to some experimental student picture, and this constantly results in the story losing flow and momentum.
Put simply: There’s something about this movie which just doesn’t quite gel. The bones are there and some elements work well, but overall it fails to make the landing and it’s not half as likeable as it could be.
On the plus side, Christian Bale is marvellous as Frankenstein and when he gets to share his vulnerability and loneliness the picture truly comes alive. There is a great movie hidden in here, which is purely about Frank, his outlook on the world, and his childlike wonder – it’s just a shame that’s not quite what this movie is about. Bugger.
Sticking with the positives and Annette Bening is fab as Dr. Euphronius, and even though her screen time is limited she makes the most of what she has. The same can be said for Penélope Cruz, who plays one-half of the detective duo tracking down the would-be Bonnie and Clyde.
This stuff is good. The Bonnie and Clyde element in particular is interesting.
But all of the above simply can’t stop this film from being a bit of a misfire. Not a total misfire, but one which falls short and struggles to do the one thing you want from a Bride movie – namely to make the Bride cool.
Like Frankenstein himself, The Bride feels like a patchwork of ideas, rather than a complete picture. There are a number of elements in here which could have been utilised better to make a stronger film, but alas that’s not what’s on offer.
So, approach with caution. If you’re hoping for the next evolution of Frankenstein or the Bride, you don’t quite get it.
Anyway, should you wish to check out The Bride!, the movie is now playing in UK and US cinemas.
—
Recent Releases
Not quite done yet? Want more movies? The above suggestions aren’t enough?! Well, here’s what’s also doing the rounds:
Firebreak (2026)
“With enough twists and turns to keep things moving, Firebreak isn’t bad. It takes a few minutes to get going, but once the missing daughter plot line kicks in and the accusations fly, it becomes a fairly robust thriller.”
Scream 7 (2026)
“This is very much Scream by-the-numbers. It is missing some of the edge of its predecessors, the central mystery is fairly easy to solve, and it lacks the energy of what came before.”
Crime 101 (2026)
“The combination of Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry, Mark Ruffalo, and Barry Keoghan is a winner, and it washes over rather well.”
—
Movie of the Week
Onto Movie of the Week and this week’s top pick is Hoppers. Disney-Pixar delivers a delightful picture, which has plenty of heart and humanity.
And if you like Hoppers then you may also like these Pixar classics:
- Brave (2012) – Set in the Scottish highlands, Brave follows the story of a young princess who must find a way to overcome her differences with her mother, after mama is turned into a bear.
- Inside Out (2015) – Positioned as a coming-of-age tale, Inside Out centres its story on a young girl dealing with complex emotions.
- Luca (2021) – Set on the Italian Riviera, Luca focuses on a young sea monster who uses his ability to assume human form as a way to explore the local town and make friends.
—
Summer Preview
And that’s your lot for yet another week, but before you go you may wish to take a look at the 2026 Summer Preview which highlights what is on the horizon this summer in film and on television. From He-Man and Little House on the Prairie, to Spider-Noir and Supergirl, there is so much entertainment coming down the track and you can read about it now!
OK, that’s it. Catch you next week.
Alex
—
—
Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this edition of Movie Reviews 2026. For more posts be sure to check out the recommended reads below.
It's A Stampede! 
Leave a comment