Hello and welcome to another edition of Movie Reviews 2026 – your indispensable guide to what to watch in the world of movies. Each week I take a look at a collection of films which are currently doing the rounds, either through streaming, the cinema, or on disc, and I offer up some opinions.
So, what’s on the agenda today? Well, Jason Statham leads the British action movie, Shelter; there’s time loop hijinks in Japanese horror, Re/Member: The Last Night; and Louis Theroux goes Inside the Manosphere for a new Netflix documentary.
Plus, this week Ryan Gosling heads into space for the sci-fi adventure movie, Project Hail Mary. The film is from directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (21 Jump Street, The Lego Movie), so expect something fun!
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Now streaming…
Re/Member: The Last Night (2025)
First up this week it’s over to Netflix for Japanese horror sequel, Re/Member: The Last Night. The movie is a follow up to 2022’s Re/Member, and sees another group of teens stuck in a time loop.
Picking up directly after the events of the first film, time rewrites itself and former lead heroine, Asuka suddenly disappears. According to history, there was a tragedy when she was a child and she simply fades away from the timeline.
Step forward a new bunch of teens to take over this sequel as the latest protagonists. From here the teens visit a local amusement park, where they too find themselves trapped in a continuous repeat of the same day, and death and chaos ensues.
Their only chance to escape the loop and move forward is to find Asuka’s body parts. But with the deadly ‘Red Person’ constantly popping up to kill them off, they are going to need a bit of assistance to get out of their predicament.
If the above plot summary sounds a bit strange it’s probably because you either haven’t watched the original movie or you’ve completely forgotten what happened. As such, if you’re interested in tackling this sequel you are advised to become familiar with the first instalment.
Re/Member: The Last Night is very closely connected to what came before. So much so, the opening moments of the movie, which create the branch between the two films, might seem rushed or a little confusing if you’ve got no clue what came before, but I promise it does make sense if you’re up to date.
Either way, once the basic set-up is in place, including the revelation that escaping the time loop has an unfortunate consequence (i.e. it is a continuous chain of curses), the film finds its groove and settles in quite nicely. There’s deaths, a romance, and a weird blood stone to contend with, which keeps things interesting and it rarely gets dull.
As interesting as 2022’s Re/Member? That’s debatable, but certainly on a similar level.
If you were a fan of the first film, then chances are you’ll like what’s on offer here. Re/Member: The Last Night expands the mythology and does so in a fairly effective way.
Want to check it out? Then take a look on Netflix.
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Now streaming…
Shelter (2026)
Over to video-on-demand now, where a gruff hermit living in a lighthouse, does his best to keep himself to himself. But all that goes out of the window when he rescues a young girl named Jessie from drowning and is forced to temporarily reconnect with the outside world.
This reconnection has significant ramifications because the hermit, played by Jason Statham, is secretly an ex special forces operative named Michael Mason. In fact, Michael is the best of the best, and before he went off grid he worked for the government’s Black Kite division.
Michael’s disappearance is something which has angered the head of Black Kite for quite some time, and after he pops back up on the government’s radar Michael becomes a target. His only chance at survival is to make a run for it with Jessie.
Directed by Ric Roman Waugh and starring Jason Statham, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays, and Bill Nighy, Shelter is a British action thriller which for all intents and purposes is essentially ‘The Re-Bourne Identity’. Bloke with special skills attempts to evade a shadowy government department, and has to fight for his survival using any method at his disposal.
So, when it comes to originality, Shelter doesn’t have a great deal of it up its sleeve. However, what Shelter does have in spades is Jason Statham doing what Jason Statham always does, which is kick ass and look cool while doing it.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll continue to say it, Statham is good at this kind of thing and has managed to successfully repeat the formula again and again, and again, because it works. And do you know what? It pretty much works again here.
Oh, Shelter is nothing special, but it’s fairly solid for what it is. Get beyond the first half-an-hour, which is a little slow, and it’s action packed stuff.
Statham’s interactions with Bodhi Rae Breathnach who plays Jessie, feels heartfelt; the action sequences are well choreographed; and the story ticks along quite nicely. Plus, Bill Nighy is perfectly cast as the menacing head of Black Kite, and Naomi Ackie and Daniel Mays turn up in decent supporting roles.
Should you wish to take a look, Shelter is available to rent or buy on all the major video-on-demand platforms.
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Now streaming…
Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere (2026)
Back to Netflix now for the documentary film, Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere. Directed by Adrian Choa, and presented by Theroux, the docu-film explores the emergence of ultra-masculine online content, with a specific focus on the rise of opinionated male influencers who are making mega bucks by being complete ass-hats.
These are content creators and influencers with extreme views, often centred around sexist, misogynist, and homophobic opinions. They talk about how they believe men are being sidelined; how men know woman better than woman know themselves; and how they have built up their success from nothing.
This last point seems to be particularly appealing to their young male fan base who are chasing a similar degree of success. Millions of young men follow this particular brand of male influencer via social media and podcasts, find value in their opinions, and repeat some of their views and comments infinitum.
It’s a worrying cycle and one which Theroux throws the spotlight on. These creators are incentivising extreme behaviour, making huge amounts of money off the back of it, and it is inspiring others to follow suit.
It’s truly troubling stuff, but something which makes for a strong docu-film worth taking a look at – especially if you’re a parent of an impressionable teenage boy. The hold some of the influencers have on youngsters is mighty, the views they promote are scary, and it’s certainly something to keep an eye on.
Thankfully, through the course of the documentary Theroux exposes plenty of contradictory behaviour from the influencers, as well as a number of false narratives which demonstrate they are talking out of their asses. They may have influence at the moment, but fame is fleeting and eventually their followers will see through all the codswallop they spout.
When Theroux gets to the heart of what’s being said it’s clear they only care about money and clout and it’s not too difficult to see the real truth behind the nonsense. That said, it’s still bonkers stuff and a subject which is likely to stir up intense feelings, along with some frustration and anger.
So, be prepared to lose your cool at least once during the course of the documentary, but watch it anyway. Theroux has a real knack for taking on cranks and winning, and he’s certainly delivering the goods this time around.
Should you wish to check it out, and you should, Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere is now streaming on Netflix.
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In cinemas…
Project Hail Mary (2026)
And finally, it’s off to the cinema for the sci-fi adventure movie, Project Hail Mary. Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and based on Andy Weir’s book of the same name, the movie stars Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, and James Ortiz, and follows the story of a school teacher on a mission to save humanity.
In the film, Gosling plays Dr. Ryland Grace, a high school teacher and scientist who awakes on a spaceship with no memory of who he is or why he’s there. As Dr. Grace begins to piece things back together, he comes to understand he is on an important quest to save the planet.
While working through his mission, Dr. Grace encounters an alien creature who he names Rocky. After the two find a way to communicate, it becomes apparent both Dr. Grace and Rocky have the same goal.
Joining forces, the pair set out to complete their work and find a way home. But will they be able to get vital information back to their respective planets in time?
Playing out like a Spielberg movie, while still retaining all the charm associated with a Lord and Miller picture, Project Hail Mary is an imaginative, thrilling, and really rather effective space epic. It’s packed with heart and humour, as well as science and spectacle, and is bolstered by a touching tale which is both awe-inspiring and captivating.
At the centre of the story is a brilliant, yet somewhat hesitant scientist who could be humanity’s only chance of survival. Earth is facing a problem which is directly connected to the sun, and unless he can throw himself into its survival, the population will be drastically reduced within the next thirty years.
Only problem is, the scientist, aka Dr. Grace, doesn’t quite believe he is the man for the job, nor is he ready to take the leap needed to save the world. However, over the course of the movie, he begins to learn more about himself and what he is truly capable of, which in turn gives the human race a fighting chance.
And joining Dr. Grace in an equally important mission for his own planet is Rocky, a rock-like alien who comes to play an important role in Grace’s journey. The friendship which develops between the two becomes an intrinsic part of Grace’s growth and development, and also becomes a joy to watch on screen.
Project Hail Mary is a fun and likeable film when the focus is purely on Grace, but when Rocky is introduced it really cranks things up a level. The connection they share adds real depth and emotion to proceedings and becomes the lynchpin to all the major drama that unfolds.
Leading the picture is Ryan Gosling who is excellent as Dr. Grace. Gosling has a great screen presence in all of his movies, but he really excels here and instantly finds a way to connect with the material and to connect with the audience.
Backing him up in supporting roles are Sandra Hüller as Eva Stratt, the head of the project, and James Ortiz who is the lead puppeteer and voice of Rocky. Both bring a lot of humanity and comedy to their roles, and ensure this movie is a fun ride from start to finish.
And then to add to this there are some fab special effects, as well as expert direction which doesn’t miss a beat. It becomes very clear, very early into the movie this is a picture in safe hands, meaning audiences can just sit back, relax, and take it all in – including all the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
If you’re itching for a bloody good blockbuster or just a delightful space movie, then Project Hail Maryis for you. Gosling is grand, the cinematography and production design is spectacular, and the story from writer Drew Goddard just sings.
This is an excellent film. Head to your nearest cinema and enjoy!
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Recent Releases
Not quite done yet? Want more movies? The above suggestions aren’t enough?! Well, here’s what’s also doing the rounds:
Worldbreaker (2026)
“Worldbreaker is very much a collection of undercooked ideas and plot teases, which are stitched together to form a meandering picture which sadly never goes anywhere.”
War Machine (2026)
“As streaming action flicks go this one’s fine. It’s the sort of thing you would have picked up randomly in Blockbuster one Saturday night in the ‘90s, when the film you wanted was out on loan, and you would have found it perfectly serviceable for a bit of late evening viewing.”
Hoppers (2026)
“There’s a lot of fun to be had in Hoppers. 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.”
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Movie of the Week
Onto Movie of the Week and this week it goes to Project Hail Mary. Ryan Gosling is excellent (as always) and the movie is a lot of fun.
And if you like Project Hail Mary you might also like:
- First Man (2018) – Ryan Gosling leads this biographical drama where he plays Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon.
- The Martian (2015) – Matt Damon stars in this Ridley Scott-directed sci-fi film about an astronaut’s attempts to survive on Mars.
- Interstellar (2014) – Christopher Nolan directs this sci-fi epic about a group of astronauts who travel through space looking for a new home for the human race.
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Summer Sequels
And that’s almost it for this week, but before you go you may wish to take a look at a preview of some unexpected sequels hitting the big screen this summer. There are a whole bunch of sequels on the horizon during the blockbuster season, and these are perhaps the most surprising entries to look out for (or possibly avoid if you’ve had enough of sequels).
Alex
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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.
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