Movies Update: From cats to spies to “We Are the World”

Plus. the best kids movies and horror movies to stream

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story February 2, 2024 By Mekado Murphy Movies Editor Hey, movie fans! Like cats? How about spies? Both are running around in "Argylle," the latest thriller from Matthew Vaughn, the filmmaker behind the "Kingsman" franchise. But our critic Alissa Wilkinson writes that not even a cat could save this movie, which she says "feels pasted together by a robot manipulating some kind of spy Magnetic Poetry." Maybe you're more into pop music and nostalgia. If so, you might want to check out the Netflix documentary "The Greatest Night in Pop," which looks back at the 1985 assemblage of music powerhouses like Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Bette Midler, Cyndi Lauper and Bob Dylan to record the charity song "We Are the World." Glenn Kenny writes that it includes some "new, engaging and sometimes eyebrow-raising anecdotal material." Juicy. Or maybe you just want to be terrified this weekend. We have five horror movies for you to stream. You can also hop over to Shudder to take in "Dario Argento Panico," a documentary about the revered Italian horror maestro. And you still have more options. Check out what else we've been watching and discussing this week by taking a deeper dive into "Saltburn" and reading a celebration of well-crafted queer coming-of-age stories. Enjoy the movies! Universal/Apple 'Argylle' Review: A Cat Cannot Save It A simulacrum of a spy movie offers few pleasures and plenty of headaches. By Alissa Wilkinson Mubi 'How to Have Sex' Review: This Paradise Is Nothing but Trouble Molly Manning Walker's vaporous coming-of-age story tracks a 16-year-old girl during a brief, booze-soaked Grecian getaway. By Manohla Dargis Amazon Studios Critic's Notebook The Point of 'Saltburn' Isn't What You Think It Is The streaming hit has generated much chatter for its transgressive scenes. But those are diversions, camouflaging what the director is really doing. By Alissa Wilkinson Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS' PICKS Kino Lorber Critic's Pick 'Skin Deep' Review: A Different Kind of Therapy A sensitive relationship drama in sci-fi trappings explores big questions about bodies, souls and intimacy. By Alissa Wilkinson A Milestone Film & Video/Kino Lorber Critic's Pick 'Bushman' Review: Outsider Art A 1971 indie whose making was disrupted by its star's deportation finally receives a release in New York. By Ben Kenigsberg Big World Pictures Critic's Pick 'Disco Boy' Review: Pawns in a Bigger Game Struggle for a New Start This feature debut from the Italian director Giacomo Abbruzzese takes on ordinary people trying to free themselves from the bonds of their homelands. By Brandon Yu MOVIE REVIEWS Netflix 'The Greatest Night in Pop' Review: They Were the World This documentary shows the highlights of the recording session for the charity song "We Are the World," which assembled a who's who of pop celebrities. By Glenn Kenny Mubi 'How to Have Sex' Review: This Paradise Is Nothing but Trouble Molly Manning Walker's vaporous coming-of-age story tracks a 16-year-old girl during a brief, booze-soaked Grecian getaway. By Manohla Dargis Shudder 'Dario Argento Panico' Review: When He Says 'Cut,' the Scene Begins This jam-packed portrait of the revered Italian horror maestro both fascinates and frustrates. By Jeannette Catsoulis Henrik Ohsten/Magnolia Pictures 'The Promised Land' Review: Coaxing Crops From a Wild Land Mads Mikkelsen stars as a soldier with little money but big ideas who gets royal approval to try to conquer a vast shrubby expanse. By Manohla Dargis Altered Innocence 'She Is Conann' Review: Queen of the Barbarians This feminist riff on "Conan the Barbarian" is a sci-fi horror movie sprinkled with a bit of glam-rock fairy dust. By Beatrice Loayza Blue Fox Entertainment 'Fitting In' Review: Her Body, Herself Maddie Ziegler plays a teen who is diagnosed with a rare reproductive condition in this movie that tends toward the obvious. By Natalia Winkelman Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT NEWS & FEATURES Courtesy of Sundance Institute The Projectionist Which Sundance 2024 Movies Will Make It to Next Year's Oscars? A Jesse Eisenberg-Kieran Culkin film, along with performances by Saoirse Ronan and André Holland, may be on the ballot next year. By Kyle Buchanan Young Filmmaker Lives His 'Fairy Tale' at Sundance Sean Wang, a first-time director, received an audience award for his coming-of-age film, "Didi." He also got the ultimate prize: a distribution deal. By Nicole Sperling and Joel Barhamand Hayley Wall Critic's Notebook The Queer Kids Are All Right. And Now They're Making Me Better. How watching gay coming-of-age stories has helped repair a heart still stuck in the past — and still scarred by a less welcoming world. By Jesse Green Seda Spettacoli Critic's Notebook Do Panic: Dario Argento's Cinema The Italian horror director is the subject of a new documentary and a film retrospective. But his artistry can be summed up in his feature directing debut, "The Bird With the Crystal Plumage." By Erik Piepenburg Illustration by Max-o-Matic; Photographs via Getty Images 'Barbie' Conquered the World. Are the Grammys Next? Songs from the soundtrack to Greta Gerwig's blockbuster have 11 nominations on Sunday night, led by Billie Eilish's heart-wrenching "What Was I Made For?" By Jeremy Gordon Amir Hamja/The New York Times Looking to Watch Movies and Make Friends? Join the Club. Around New York City, there's a robust circle of film enthusiasts showing offbeat movies in bars and shops, where lingering afterward is welcomed. By Erik Piepenburg Netflix Documentary Download: 3 Celebrity Portraits Worth Your Time The typical star biography avoids warts. But there are films that combine critical takes with a better understanding of their subjects' cultural import. By Alissa Wilkinson via Martha Coolidge Rewind 'Not a Pretty Picture': A Director's Unflinching Response to Trauma Anthology Film Archives is screening a new 4K restoration of Martha Coolidge's 1976 docudrama about date rape. By J. Hoberman Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS BBC Worldwide North America Three Great Documentaries to Stream Economic exploitation, climate change, entrenched corruption: These acclaimed films find fascination in catastrophe. By Ben Kenigsberg Netflix 5 Children's Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include a DreamWorks Animation film about the unpredictability of life and a fantastical mystery about hope. By Dina Gachman Richard DuCree/National Geographic The Best Movies and TV Shows Coming to Amazon, Disney+, Hulu, Max and More in February "Genius:MLK/X," a "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" series, a remake of "Shogun" and "Feud: Capote vs. the Swans" are among the new arrivals. By Noel Murray Dark Sky Films Five Horror Movies to Stream Now This month's picks are about being trapped: in a relationship, in a trunk and by Nazi demons. By Erik Piepenburg Warner Bros. Stream These 11 Movies Before They Leave Netflix in February "Dune" and "Snowpiercer" are among the action epics, dramas and teen comedies leaving soon for U.S. subscribers. Watch them while you can. By Jason Bailey How are we doing? We'd love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to moviesupdate@nytimes.com. Like this email? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. 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