Movies Update: Zendaya and spice and everything nice in “Dune: Part Two.”

Plus, should you check out "Spaceman," with Adam Sandler?

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story March 1, 2024 By Mekado Murphy Movies Editor Hey movie fans, Sandworms and spice and Zendaya, oh my! "Dune: Part Two" has arrived. We're ready with our commemorative popcorn bucket to take it all in. Manohla Dargis has made the film a Critic's Pick, writing in her review that "the sequel resumes the story boldly, delivering visions both phantasmagoric and familiar." If you seek a refresher, we've provided all the necessary info needed going in. We also spoke with the film's star, Timothée Chalamet, and it's director, Denis Villeneuve. Plus, did you know they used Rice Krispies to record some of the movie's sand sounds? You do now! If you're looking for a home screening experience instead, "Spaceman," starring Adam Sandler, is now available on Netflix. But our critic Alissa Wilkinson provides a warning on that one. "It is not fun-bad," she writes in her review. "It is maudlin-bad, belabored-bad and also pretty boring-bad." Maybe check out what's playing on one of the alternative streaming services like Mubi instead. Enjoy the movies! Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros. Critic's pick 'Dune: Part Two' Review: Bigger, Wormier and Way Far Out Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya make an appealing pair in Denis Villeneuve's follow-up film, and the actors fit together with tangible ease. By Manohla Dargis Netflix 'Spaceman' Review: What Happened Here? Adam Sandler and Carey Mulligan star in a baffling Netflix misfire about a man in, well, space. By Alissa Wilkinson H.R. Giger/Sony Pictures Classics Critic's Notebook 'Dune' Fans, Here's a Documentary That Will Blow Your Mind 'Jodorowsky's Dune' chronicles a director's determination to film his vision of the saga, one that would have included Mick Jagger and Gloria Swanson. By Alissa Wilkinson Mubi, via Associated Press The Projectionist Sex and Silence: What This Awards Season Tells Us About Hollywood Whether it's the return of steamy scenes or the lack of political speeches, the road to the Oscars holds a lot of clues about the state of the industry. By Kyle Buchanan Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS' PICKS Jane Zhang/Sony Pictures Classics Critic's Pick 'Shayda' Review: Finding Refuge in Community This stirring film from Noora Niasari follows an Iranian woman and her daughter living in a women's shelter in Australia. By Natalia Winkelman Greta de Lazzaris/Cohen Media Group Critic's Pick 'Io Capitano' Review: A Migration Odyssey The Italian director of the film "Gomorrah" focuses his tender yet unsparing lens on two teenage boys journeying from their home in Senegal to Europe. By Manohla Dargis ANATOMY OF A SCENE Neon Anatomy of a Scene How an Argument Resonates in 'Anatomy of a Fall' The director Justine Triet narrates a sequence from her film, which is nominated for best picture. Triet is also nominated for best director. By Mekado Murphy MOVIE REVIEWS A24 'Problemista' Review: Craven New World The first feature film from the writer and comedian Julio Torres is a social problem drama with the frippery of a Michel Gondry romance. By Amy Nicholson Magnet Releasing 'Amelia's Children' Review: Mommy Weirdest A villa in Portugal introduces two New Yorkers to more than long-lost family in this comically sick horror movie. By Jeannette Catsoulis Quiver Distribution 'Outlaw Posse' Review: Ride or Die Two decades after his previous Black western, Mario Van Peebles is back in the saddle again. This time, his son, Mandela, is with him. By Robert Daniels Netflix 'Code 8: Part II' Review: Helping a Child in Danger In this Netflix sequel, the acting cousins Robbie and Stephen Amell again play gruff men of action — physical and psychic — navigating an urban dystopia. By Glenn Kenny Paramount+ 'As We Speak': Rap Music on Trial' Review: Weaponizing Lyrics in Court Lyrics that contain references to violence have been used as legal evidence, a practice this documentary by J.M. Harper condemns as unfair and prejudicial. By Ben Kenigsberg Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT NEWS & FEATURES Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros. Pictures, via Associated Press 'Dune: Part Two': Here's Everything You Need to Know Before you see the second film in Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of the sci-fi epic, try this refresher on spice, the Imperium and the Kwisatz Haderach. By Danielle Dowling Michele K. Short/Focus Features In Defense of PG-13 Horror Not everyone needs a scary movie that goes to the darkest extremes. Here's why milder horror films can still pack a punch. By Kellina Moore HBO Richard Lewis Riffing in One of His Last Interviews The occasion was a profile of a "Curb Your Enthusiasm" co-star, but Lewis got plenty of good lines in as he reminisced about starting out with Larry David. By Melena Ryzik Gkids Children's Film Festival Has Robots, Chickens, Authors and More A range of films, many of them animated, some hilarious, some serious, bubble up at this year's festival in New York, where kids can vote for awards. By Laurel Graeber STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Jojo Whilden/IFC Films What is Mubi? A Streaming Alternative to Netflix, Hulu and More. We highlight one of the lesser-known places to discover great movies. By Jason Bailey Game Theory Films Five Horror Movies to Stream Now A troubled patient, a pumpkin-headed monster and a one-eyed madman are among the subjects in this month's scary streaming picks. By Erik Piepenburg /Bophana Center, via Associated Press Three Great Documentaries to Stream A broken family, a family remembered and a family's generation-spanning struggles are at the heart of this month's picks. By Ben Kenigsberg D Stevens/Universal Pictures Stream These 8 Titles Before They Leave Netflix in March Star-led titles including Jerry Seinfeld's animated feature, a James Brown biopic and a Steve Martin-Meryl Streep rom-com are leaving the streaming service. Watch them while you can. By Jason Bailey Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT 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. You received this email because you signed up for Movies Update from The New York Times. 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